[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 244 (Thursday, December 21, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 60520-60543]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27452]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R06-OAR-2016-0520; EPA-R06-OAR-2017-0129; FRL-9971-85-Region 6]


Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Louisiana; 
Regional Haze State Implementation Plan

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act), the 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing an approval of 
revisions to the Louisiana State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by 
the State of Louisiana through the Louisiana Department of 
Environmental Quality (LDEQ) that address regional haze for the first 
planning period. LDEQ submitted these revisions to address the 
requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA) and the EPA's rules that 
require states to prevent any future and remedy any existing 
anthropogenic impairment of visibility in mandatory Class I areas 
(national parks and wilderness areas) caused by emissions of air 
pollutants from numerous sources located over a wide geographic area 
(also referred to as the ``regional haze program''). To address the 
Best Available Retrofit Technology (BART) requirement for sulfur 
dioxide (SO2), oxides of nitrogen (NOX) and 
particulate matter (PM), the EPA is finalizing approval of source-by-
source BART determinations for certain electric generating and non-
electric generating units. To address the BART requirement for 
NOX for electric generating units, we are finalizing our 
proposed determination that Louisiana's participation in the Cross-
State Air Pollution Rule's (CSAPR) trading program for ozone-season 
NOX qualifies as an alternative to BART.

DATES: This rule is effective on January 22, 2018.

ADDRESSES: The EPA has established dockets for this action under Docket 
ID No. EPA-R06-OAR-2016-0520 for non-electric generating units and 
Docket ID No. EPA-R06-OAR-2017-0129 for electric generating units 
(EGUs). All documents in the dockets are listed on the http://www.regulations.gov website. Although listed in the index, some 
information is not publicly available, e.g., Confidential Business 
Information or other information whose disclosure is restricted by 
statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, is not 
placed on the internet and will be publicly available only in hard copy 
form. Publicly available docket materials are available either 
electronically through http://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at 
the EPA Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas 75202-
2733.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Huser, 214-665-7347.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document ``we,'' ``us,'' and 
``our'' means the EPA.

I. Background
    A. The Regional Haze Program
    B. Our Previous Actions
    C. CSAPR as an Alternative to Source-Specific NOX 
BART
II. Summary of Final Action
III. Response to Comments
    A. Modeling
    B. NRG Big Cajun II
    C. Cleco Brame Energy Center
    D. Entergy Nelson
    E. Legal
    F. CSAPR-Better-Than-BART
    H. Long-Term Strategy and Reasonable Progress
    I. Compliance Date for Nelson
IV. Final Action
V. Incorporation by Reference
VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

I. Background

A. The Regional Haze Program

    Regional haze is visibility impairment that is produced by a 
multitude of sources and activities that are located across a broad 
geographic area and emit fine particulates (PM2.5) (e.g., 
sulfates, nitrates, organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), and 
soil dust), and their precursors (e.g., sulfur dioxide 
(SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOX), and in some cases, 
ammonia (NH3) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)). Fine

[[Page 60521]]

particle precursors react in the atmosphere to form PM2.5, 
which impairs visibility by scattering and absorbing light. Visibility 
impairment reduces the clarity, color, and visible distance that can be 
seen. PM2.5 can also cause serious adverse health effects 
and mortality in humans; it also contributes to environmental effects 
such as acid deposition and eutrophication.
    Data from the existing visibility monitoring network, ``Interagency 
Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments'' (IMPROVE), shows that 
visibility impairment caused by air pollution occurs virtually all of 
the time at most national parks and wilderness areas. In 1999, the 
average visual range in many Class I areas (i.e., national parks and 
memorial parks, wilderness areas, and international parks meeting 
certain size criteria) in the western United States was 100-150 
kilometers, or about one-half to two-thirds of the visual range that 
would exist without anthropogenic air pollution. In most of the eastern 
Class I areas of the United States, the average visual range was less 
than 30 kilometers, or about one-fifth of the visual range that would 
exist under estimated natural conditions. CAA programs have reduced 
some haze-causing pollution, lessening some visibility impairment and 
resulting in partially improved average visual ranges.
    CAA requirements to address the problem of visibility impairment 
continue to be implemented. In Section 169A of the 1977 Amendments to 
the CAA, Congress created a program for protecting visibility in the 
nation's national parks and wilderness areas. This section of the CAA 
establishes as a national goal the prevention of any future, and the 
remedying of any existing, man-made impairment of visibility in 156 
national parks and wilderness areas designated as mandatory Class I 
Federal areas. On December 2, 1980, the EPA promulgated regulations to 
address visibility impairment in Class I areas that is ``reasonably 
attributable'' to a single source or small group of sources, i.e., 
``reasonably attributable visibility impairment.'' These regulations 
represented the first phase in addressing visibility impairment. The 
EPA deferred action on regional haze that emanates from a variety of 
sources until monitoring, modeling, and scientific knowledge about the 
relationships between pollutants and visibility impairment were 
improved.
    Congress added section 169B to the CAA in 1990 to address regional 
haze issues, and the EPA promulgated regulations addressing regional 
haze in 1999. The Regional Haze Rule \1\ revised the existing 
visibility regulations to add provisions addressing regional haze 
impairment and established a comprehensive visibility protection 
program for Class I areas. The requirements for regional haze are 
included in our visibility protection regulations at 40 CFR 51.300-309. 
The requirement to submit a regional haze SIP applies to all 50 states, 
the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands. States were required 
to submit the first implementation plan addressing regional haze 
visibility impairment no later than December 17, 2007.
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    \1\ Here and elsewhere in this document, the term ``Regional 
Haze Rule,'' refers to the 1999 final rule (64 FR 35714), as amended 
in 2005 (70 FR 39156, July 6, 2005), 2006 (71 FR 60631, October 13, 
2006), 2012 (77 FR 33656, June 7, 2012), and January 10, 2017 (82 FR 
3078).
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    Section 169A of the CAA directs states to evaluate the use of 
retrofit controls at certain larger, often under-controlled, older 
stationary sources in order to address visibility impacts from these 
sources. Specifically, section 169A(b)(2)(A) of the CAA requires states 
to revise their SIPs to contain such measures as may be necessary to 
make reasonable progress toward the natural visibility goal, including 
a requirement that certain categories of existing major stationary 
sources built between 1962 and 1977 procure, install and operate the 
``Best Available Retrofit Technology'' (BART). Larger ``fossil-fuel 
fired steam electric plants'' are one of these source categories. Under 
the Regional Haze Rule, states are directed to conduct BART 
determinations for ``BART-eligible'' sources that may be anticipated to 
cause or contribute to any visibility impairment in a Class I area. The 
evaluation of BART for electric generating units (EGUs) that are 
located at fossil-fuel fired power plants having a generating capacity 
in excess of 750 megawatts must follow the ``Guidelines for BART 
Determinations Under the Regional Haze Rule'' at appendix Y to 40 CFR 
part 51 (hereinafter referred to as the ``BART Guidelines''). Rather 
than requiring source-specific BART controls, states also have the 
flexibility to adopt an emissions trading program or other alternative 
program as long as the alternative provides for greater progress 
towards improving visibility than BART.

B. Our Previous Actions

    On June 13, 2008, Louisiana submitted a SIP to address regional 
haze (``2008 Louisiana Regional Haze SIP'' or ``2008 SIP revision''). 
We acted on that submittal in two separate actions. Our first action 
was a limited disapproval \2\ because of deficiencies in the state's 
regional haze SIP submittal arising from the remand by the U.S. Court 
of Appeals for the District of Columbia of the Clean Air Interstate 
Rule (CAIR). Our second action was a partial limited approval/partial 
disapproval \3\ because the 2008 SIP revision met some but not all of 
the applicable requirements of the CAA and our regulations as set forth 
in sections 169A and 169B of the CAA and 40 CFR 51.300-308, but as a 
whole, the 2008 SIP revision strengthened the existing SIP. In that 
action we disapproved Louisiana's long-term strategy, finding that it 
was deficient given our finding that certain of Louisiana's BART 
determinations were not fully approvable.\4\ We found that Louisiana 
followed the requirements with regards to reasonable progress goals, 
but that the goals did not reflect appropriate emissions reductions for 
BART. We found that the long term strategy satisfied most requirements 
of 40 CFR 51.308(d)(3), but was deficient since it relied on BART 
determinations which we disapproved.
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    \2\ 77 FR 33642 (June 7, 2012).
    \3\ 77 FR 39425 (July 3, 2012).
    \4\ 77 FR 39426 (July 3, 2012).
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    On August 11, 2016, Louisiana submitted a SIP revision to address 
the deficiencies related to BART for four non-EGU facilities: Sid 
Richardson, Phillips 66 Company--Alliance Refinery, Mosaic, and 
EcoServices, LLC. Based on the BART analysis and modeling provided by 
Sid Richardson, LDEQ concluded that the facility is not subject to BART 
because its model visibility impact was less than 0.5 deciviews (dv). 
We proposed to approve this determination. We also proposed approval of 
LDEQ's determination that the current controls installed and operating 
conditions at the Phillips 66 Company--Alliance Refinery subject to 
BART units constitute BART. The emission limits which reflect current 
controls and operating conditions at the facility for all subject to 
BART units are included in Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) No. 
AE-AOC-14-00211A between LDEQ and Phillips 66 in accordance with 40 CFR 
51.308(e), and were provided in the August 11, 2016 SIP revision. We 
further proposed approval of LDEQ's determination that the current 
controls and operating conditions at the Mosaic facility constitute 
BART. The emission limits for Mosaic under current controls and 
operating conditions are included in AOC No. AE-AOC-14-00274A which was 
included in the August 11, 2016 SIP revision. Finally, we proposed 
approval

[[Page 60522]]

of LDEQ's determination that the current controls and operating 
conditions at the EcoServices LLC facility constitute BART. The 
emission limits for EcoServices are included in AOC No. AE-AOC-14-00957 
between LDEQ and EcoServices. We proposed to approve that August 11, 
2016 revision in its entirety on October 27, 2016.\5\ We received no 
comments on our October 27, 2016 proposal and we are finalizing that 
approval here.
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    \5\ 81 FR 74750 (October 27, 2016).
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    On February 10, 2017, Louisiana submitted a SIP revision intended 
to address the deficiencies related to BART for EGU sources. On May 19, 
2017, we proposed to approve that revision, with the exception of the 
portion related to Entergy's Nelson facility. We proposed to approve 
the LDEQ determination that the BART-eligible units at the following 
facilities do not cause or contribute to visibility impairment and are 
not subject to BART: Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government Houma 
Generating Station (Houma), Louisiana Energy and Power Authority 
Plaquemine Steam Plant (Plaquemine), Lafayette Utilities System Louis 
``Doc'' Bonin Generating Station, Cleco Teche, Entergy Sterlington, NRG 
Big Cajun I, and NRG Big Cajun II. We also proposed to approve the LDEQ 
BART determinations for subject to BART units at the following 
facilities: Cleco's Brame Energy Center, and Entergy's Willow Glen, 
Little Gypsy, Ninemile Point, Waterford and Michoud facilities. We 
proposed to approve the AOCs for Brame, Willow Glen, Little Gypsy, and 
Ninemile Point. We are now finalizing our approval that BART has been 
addressed for these units.
    We note that Entergy applied for a permit for Michoud, which 
included the decommissioning of the subject to BART Units 2 and 3, and 
the construction of new units. We proposed to approve the BART 
determination for Units 2 and 3 based on the draft permit indicating 
the units would no longer be operational. We expected the permit would 
be finalized before we took final action but it has not yet been 
finalized. We addressed this possibility by also proposing that LDEQ 
could submit another enforceable document to ensure that Units 2 and 3 
cannot restart without a BART determination and emission limits, or 
otherwise demonstrate that the units have been decommissioned to the 
point that they cannot restart without obtaining a new NSR permit. LDEQ 
provided additional information from Entergy indicating that the units 
are in the process of being decommissioned, and are non-operational, as 
reflected in an email dated October 9, 2017, submitted by LDEQ to 
supplement its February 2017 SIP revision. We received no comments on 
our proposed approach for the Michoud BART units. As a result, we 
approving the SIP's finding that BART is addressed because the units 
are no longer in operation and are in the process of being 
decommissioned.
    On June 20, 2017, LDEQ submitted a SIP revision for parallel 
processing related to Entergy's Nelson facility. On July 13, 2017, we 
proposed to approve this SIP revision along with the remaining portion 
of the February 2017 SIP revision that addressed BART for the Nelson 
facility. Specifically, we proposed to approve the LDEQ BART 
determinations for Nelson Units 6 and 4, and the Unit 4 auxiliary 
boiler, and the AOC that makes the emission limits that represent BART 
permanent and enforceable for the purposes of regional haze. We also 
solicited comment with respect to any information that would support or 
refute the costs in Entergy's evaluation of SO2 controls for 
Unit 6. On June 21, 2017, Entergy submitted a comment to LDEQ on its 
proposed SIP revision requesting a three-year compliance deadline to 
achieve the proposed SO2 BART limit for Nelson Unit 6. 
Entergy's letter explained that the company has coal contracts in place 
for the next three years, so the revised compliance date would provide 
the company sufficient time to transition to new mines with lower 
sulfur coal. Additionally, Entergy stated that it did not have the 
necessary equipment to blend varying fuel supplies. On August 24, 2017, 
we received a letter from LDEQ explaining their intent to revise the 
compliance date in the SIP revision for Nelson Unit 6 based on 
Entergy's comment letter. On September 26, 2017, we supplemented our 
proposed approval of the SO2 BART determination for Nelson 
by proposing to approve the three-year compliance date. On October 26, 
2017, we received LDEQ's final SIP revision addressing Nelson, 
including a final AOC with emission limits and a SO2 
compliance date three years from the effective date of the EPA's final 
approval of the SIP revision.

C. CSAPR as an Alternative to Source-Specific NOX BART

    In 2005, the EPA promulgated CAIR, which required 28 states and the 
District of Columbia to reduce emissions of SO2 and 
NOX that significantly contribute to non-attainment or 
interfere with maintenance of the 1997 national ambient air quality 
standards (NAAQS) for fine particulates and/or 8-hour ozone in any 
downwind state.\6\ EPA demonstrated that CAIR would achieve greater 
reasonable progress toward the national visibility goal than would BART 
and determined that states participating in CAIR could rely on CAIR as 
an alternative to EGU BART for SO2 and NOX.\7\
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    \6\ 70 FR 25161 (May 12, 2005).
    \7\ 70 FR 39104, 39139 (July 6, 2005).
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    Louisiana's 2008 Regional Haze SIP relied on participation in CAIR 
as an alternative to meeting the source-specific EGU BART requirements 
for SO2 and NOX.\8\ Shortly after Louisiana 
submitted its SIP to us, however, the D. C. Circuit remanded CAIR 
(without vacatur).\9\ The court thereby left CAIR and CAIR Federal 
Implementation Plans (FIPs) in place in order to ``temporarily preserve 
the environmental values covered by CAIR'' until we could, by 
rulemaking, replace CAIR consistent with the court's opinion.\10\ In 
2011, we promulgated the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) to 
replace CAIR.\11\ While EGUs in Louisiana were required to participate 
in CAIR for both SO2 and NOX, Louisiana EGUs are 
only included in CSAPR for ozone-season NOX.\12\
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    \8\ See 40 CFR 51.308(e)(4) (2006).
    \9\ The court decided to vacate CAIR on July 11, 2008, and 
revised its decision, so as to remand the rule without vacatur, on 
December 23, 2008. North Carolina v. EPA, 531 F. 3d 896, 901 (D.C. 
Cir. 2008), modified, 550 F. 3d 1176 (D.C. Cir. 2008). Louisiana's 
initial Regional Haze SIP was submitted on June 13, 2008. 77 FR 
39425.
    \10\ 550 F. 3d at 1178.
    \11\ 76 FR 48207 (August 8, 2011).
    \12\ 76 FR 82219, at 82226 (December 30, 2011).
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    In 2012, we issued a limited disapproval of Louisiana's and several 
other states' regional haze SIPs because of reliance on CAIR as an 
alternative to EGU BART for SO2 and/or NOX.\13\ 
We also determined that CSAPR would provide for greater reasonable 
progress than BART and amended the Regional Haze Rule to allow CSAPR 
participation as an alternative to source-specific SO2 and/
or NOX BART for EGUs, on a pollutant-specific basis.\14\ 
Because Louisiana EGUs are included in CSAPR for NOX, 
Louisiana can rely on CSAPR to satisfy the EGU BART requirement for 
NOX.
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    \13\ The limited disapproval triggered the EPA's obligation to 
issue a FIP or approve a SIP revision to correct the relevant 
deficiencies within 2 years of the final limited disapproval action. 
CAA section 110(c)(1); 77 FR 33642, at 33654 (August 6, 2012).
    \14\ While that rulemaking also promulgated FIPs for several 
states to replace reliance on CAIR with reliance on CSAPR as an 
alternative to BART, it did not include a FIP for Louisiana. 77 FR 
33642, 33654.
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    CSAPR has been subject to extensive litigation, and on July 28, 
2015, the D. C. Circuit issued a decision generally

[[Page 60523]]

upholding CSAPR but remanding without vacating the CSAPR emissions 
budgets for a number of states.\15\ On October 26, 2016, we finalized 
an update to CSAPR that addresses the 1997 ozone NAAQS portion of the 
remand as well as the CAA requirements addressing interstate transport 
for the 2008 ozone NAAQS.\16\ Additionally, three states, Alabama, 
Georgia, and South Carolina, have adopted or committed to adopt SIPs to 
replace the remanded FIPs and will continue their participation in the 
CSAPR program on a voluntary basis with the same budgets. On November 
10, 2016, we proposed a rule intended to address the remainder of the 
court's remand as it relates to Texas.\17\ This separate proposed rule 
included an assessment of the impacts of the set of actions that the 
EPA had taken or expected to take in response to the D. C. Circuit's 
remand on our 2012 demonstration that participation in CSAPR provides 
for greater reasonable progress than BART. Based on that assessment, 
the EPA proposed that states may continue to rely on CSAPR as an 
alternative to BART on a pollutant-specific basis. On September 29, 
2017, we finalized our proposed finding that the EPA's 2012 analytical 
demonstration remains valid and that participation in CSAPR, as it now 
exists, meets the Regional Haze Rule's criteria for an alternative to 
BART.\18\ LDEQ's February 2017 SIP revision relies on CSAPR as an 
alternative to BART for control of NOX from EGUs.
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    \15\ Louisiana's ozone season NOX budgets were not 
included in the remand. EME Homer City Generation v. EPA, 795 F.3d 
118, 138 (D.C. Cir. 2015).
    \16\ 81 FR74504 (October 26, 2016).
    \17\ 81 FR 78954 (November 10, 2016).
    \18\ 82 FR 45481 (September 29, 2017).
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II. Summary of Final Action

    This action finalizes our proposed approval of the BART 
determinations for non-EGU facilities,\19\ our proposed approval of the 
BART determinations for EGU facilities,\20\ our proposed approval of 
the BART determination for Nelson Unit 6,\21\ our proposed approval of 
the reliance on CSAPR by EGUs for NOX BART requirements, and 
our proposed approval that the BART eligible sources \22\ at the 
following facilities do not cause or contribute to visibility 
impairment and are not subject to BART: Terrebonne Parish Consolidated 
Government Houma Generating Station (Houma), Louisiana Energy and Power 
Authority Plaquemine Steam Plant (Plaquemine), Lafayette Utilities 
System Louis ``Doc'' Bonin Generating Station, Cleco Teche, Entergy 
Sterlington, NRG Big Cajun I, and NRG Big Cajun II. With the exception 
of the change in compliance date for Nelson Unit 6, we note that we are 
finalizing the proposed rules referenced above as proposed.\23\ A brief 
summary of the SIP submittal provisions being finalized is included 
below.
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    \19\ 81 FR 74750 (August 16, 2016).
    \20\ 82 FR 22936 (May 19, 2017).
    \21\ 82 FR 32294 (July 13, 2017).
    \22\ The BART-eligible source is the collection of BART-eligible 
units at a stationary source. 40 CFR Appendix Y, II.A.4
    \23\ On September 26, 2017, we published a proposed rule 
amending our July 13, 2017 proposal. This amended proposed rule 
proposed a new compliance date of three years from the date the rule 
becomes final. See, 82 FR 32294 (July 13, 2017) and 82 FR 44753 
(September 26, 2017).
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    We are finalizing our approval of the Louisiana Regional Haze SIP 
as we have found it to meet the applicable provisions of the Act and 
EPA regulations and it is consistent with EPA guidance. We find that 
the core requirements for regional haze SIPs found in 40 CFR 51.308(d) 
such as: The requirement to establish reasonable progress goals, the 
requirement to determine the baseline and natural visibility 
conditions, and the requirement to submit a long-term strategy; the 
BART requirements for regional haze visibility impairment with respect 
to emissions of visibility impairing pollutants from non-EGUs and EGUs 
in 40 CFR 51.308(e); and the requirement for coordination with state 
and Federal Land Managers in 51.308(i) are met. This final action 
includes, among other things, the approval of the following: The 
determination that the emission limits reflected in the AOC between 
LDEQ and Phillips 66 meet the BART requirements, the determination that 
the sources listed in Tables 1, 2, and 3 below are not subject to BART, 
the determination that the sources listed in Table 4 below are subject 
to BART, the determination that the emission limits and operating 
conditions reflected in the AOC for Mosaic Fertilizer, LLC meet the 
BART requirements, the determination that the emission limits and 
operating conditions reflected in the AOC for EcoServices, LLC meet the 
BART requirements, the determination that emission limits and operating 
conditions listed in the AOC for Louisiana Generating, LLC meet the 
applicable BART requirements for Big Cajun II, the determination that 
the emission limits and operating conditions listed in the AOC for 
Cleco meet BART requirements for Cleco Brame Energy Center, and the 
determination that the emission limits and operating conditions in the 
AOCs for Entergy meet the applicable BART requirements for Waterford, 
Willow Glen, Ninemile, Little Gypsy, and Nelson. This final rule 
renders the limits and conditions included in the AOCs mentioned above 
federally enforceable. We are also finalizing approval of the three-
year compliance date for Nelson Unit 6 in this final rule.\24\
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    \24\ Id.
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    Additionally, this final action fully approves the 2008, 2016, and 
the two 2017 SIP revisions as supplemented with respect to Sec.  
51.308(e), and addresses all deficiencies identified in our previous 
partial disapproval and partial limited approval of the 2008 SIP 
submission.\25\
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    \25\ 77 FR 39425 (July 3, 2012).

                                            Table 1--Retired Sources
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              Facility name                          Units                               Parish
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Louisiana Energy and Power Authority      Units 1, 2, 3, and 4         St. Mary/St. Martin.
 Morgan City Steam Plant.                  boilers.
City of Ruston Ruston Electric            Boilers 1, 2, and 3........  Lincoln.
 Generating Plant.
City of Natchitoches Utility Department.  3 boilers..................  Natchitoches.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                     Table 2--BART-Eligible Sources Screened Out Using Model Plant Analysis
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              Facility name                          Units                               Parish
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Louisiana Energy and Power Authority      Boilers 1 and 2............  Iberville.
 Plaquemine Steam Plant.

[[Page 60524]]

 
Lafayette Utilities System Louis ``Doc''  Units 1, 2, and 3..........  Lafayette.
 Bonin Electric Generating Station.
Terrebonne Parish Consolidated            Units 15 and 16............  Terrebonne.
 Government Houma Generating Station.
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             Table 3--BART-Eligible Sources Screened Out With Visibility Impact of Less Than 0.5 dv
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Facility name                          Units                               Parish
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cleco Teche.............................  Unit 3.....................  St. Mary.
Entergy Sterlington.....................  Unit 7.....................  Ouachita.
Louisiana Generating (NRG) Big Cajun I..  Units 1 and 2..............  Point Coupee.
Louisiana Generating (NRG) Big Cajun II.  Units 1 and 2..............  Pointe Coupee.
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                                      Table 4--Subject to BART EGU Sources
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                                                           BART determination \1\
         Facility name                 Units       --------------------------------------         Parish
                                                           SO2                 PM
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cleco Brame Entergy Center.....  Nesbitt I (Unit    3.0 lb/hr........  37.3 lb/hr.......  Rapides.
                                  1).               0.30 lb/MMBtu....  545 lb/hr........
                                 Rodemacher II
                                  (Unit 2).
Entergy Waterford..............  Units 1, 2, and    Fuel oil with a    Fuel oil with a    St. Charles.
                                  auxiliary boiler.  sulfur content     sulfur content
                                                     of 1% or less.     of 1% or less.
                                                    No additional      No additional
                                                     control.           control.
Entergy Willow Glen............  Units 2, 3, 4, 5,  No additional      No additional      Iberville.
                                  and auxiliary      controls when      controls when
                                  boiler.            burning natural    burning natural
                                                     gas \2\.           gas \2\.
Entergy Ninemile Point.........  Units 4 and 5....  Fuel oil with a    Fuel oil with a    Jefferson.
                                                     sulfur content     sulfur content
                                                     of 0. 0015%.       of 0. 0015%.
Entergy Little Gypsy...........  Units 2, 3, and    Fuel oil with a    Fuel oil with a    St. Charles.
                                  auxiliary boiler.  sulfur content     sulfur content
                                                     of 0.0015%.        of 0. 0015%.
                                                    No additional      No additional
                                                     control.           control.
Entergy Nelson.................  Unit 4 and         No additional      No additional      Calcasieu.
                                  auxiliary boiler.  controls when      controls when
                                 Unit 6...........   burning natural    burning natural
                                                     gas \2\.           gas \2\.
                                                    0.6 lb/MMBtu.....  317.61 lb/hr.....
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Numeric BART limits are on a 30-day rolling basis.
\2\ Before fuel oil firing is allowed to take place at the Willow Glen BART units, Nelson Unit 4 or the
  auxiliary boiler, a revised BART determination for that unit must be promulgated for SO2 and PM for the fuel
  oil firing scenario through a FIP or an action by the LDEQ as a SIP revision and approved by the EPA such that
  the action will become federally enforceable.

    We received comments from several commenters on our proposed 
approval of the BART determinations for EGU facilities,\26\ our 
proposed approval of the BART determination for Nelson Unit 6,\27\ and 
our proposed approval of LDEQ's revised SIP, which changed the 
effective date of the emission limits for Nelson Unit 6.\28\ We did not 
receive comments on our proposed approval of the BART determinations 
for the four subject to BART non-EGU facilities.\29\ Our response to 
the substantive comments are summarized in Section III. We note that we 
received a comment letter from Cleco Brame Energy Center on August 2, 
2017. This comment letter was received outside of the applicable 
comment period.\30\ Additionally, the comments contained in the letter 
did not raise any issues with our proposal. They were submitted in 
response to issues raised by another commenter in a separate comment 
letter.\31\
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    \26\ 82 FR 22936 (May 19, 2017).
    \27\ 82 FR 32294 (July 13, 2017).
    \28\ 82 FR 44753 (September 26, 2017).
    \29\ 81 FR 74750 (October 27, 2016).
    \30\ The comment period closed on June 19, 2017.
    \31\ See August 2, 2017 letter from William Matthews (Cleco 
Corporation) to Jennifer Huser (EPA), Document ID EPA-R06-OAR-2017-
0129-003. Cleco submitted its comment letter on August 2, 2017 in 
response to a comment letter previously submitted by Earthjustice, 
National Parks Conservation Association, and Sierra Club (the 
Conservation Organizations) on June 19, 2017. In its letter, Cleco 
addressed the concerns raised by the Conservation Organizations in 
their letter.
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    We are approving the 2008, 2016, February 2017, and the October 
2017 LA RH SIPs (as supplemented by the October 9, 2017 email \32\) 
submitted by Louisiana as we have determined that they meet all of the 
regional haze SIP requirements, including the BART requirements in 
Sec.  51.308(e). We have fully considered all significant comments on 
our proposed actions on the four RH SIP revision submittals as 
supplemented by the October 9, 2017 email, and have concluded that no 
changes are warranted.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \32\ Email from Vivian Aucoin (LDEQ) forwarding email from 
Richie Corvers (Entergy) detailing the current status of 
decommissioning Entergy Michoud Units 2 and 3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. Response to Comments

    We received written comments by the internet and the mail. The full 
text of comments received from these commenters is included in the 
publicly posted docket associated with this action at 
www.regulations.gov. We reviewed all public comments that we received 
on the proposed actions. Below, we provide a summary of certain 
comments and our responses. First, we provide a summary of the more 
significant/relevant modeling related comments with a summary of our 
responses. The entirety of the modeling comments and our responses 
thereto are contained in a separate document titled the Modeling RTC 
document. Second, we provide a summary of all of the relevant technical 
comments we received and our responses to these comments. Third, we 
provide a

[[Page 60525]]

summary below of all of the relevant legal comments and our responses.

A. Modeling

    Comment: Cleco and Entergy assert that their BART-eligible sources 
were shown through their initial Comprehensive Air Quality Model with 
Extensions (CAMx) modeling analysis not to have significant impacts 
above the 0.5 dv threshold and are therefore, not subject to BART. 
After EPA's initial review of Entergy and Cleco's CAMx modeling \33\ 
provided to EPA and LDEQ before LDEQ proposed its SIP, EPA provided 
additional guidance to LDEQ and Entergy/Cleco/Trinity. Even though the 
commenters disagreed with the technical basis of EPA's requests for 
revised modeling, in response to this guidance, revised modeling 
analyses \34\ were completed for these sources and the commenters 
maintain that based on their revised modeling analyses, these units are 
not subject to BART. The commenters state that EPA's CAMx and CALPUFF 
modeling, which show that these sources are subject to BART, contain 
significant defects, making the modeling far less reliable than the 
initial CAMx modeling analyses submitted by Cleco and Entergy. They 
assert that CAMx modeling is clearly superior to CALPUFF modeling when 
there are relatively long distances between the modeled source and the 
Class I areas. The commenters state that the CAMx modeling protocol 
followed in their initial modeling analysis was proper, minimizes 
potential bias and shows that the BART-eligible units at Cleco Brame 
Energy Center and the Entergy Nelson, Waterford, Willow Glen, Ninemile 
Point, and Little Gypsy facilities have insignificant impacts at all 
Class I areas. Therefore, the commenters believe that all of these 
units should have been characterized as not subject to BART by LDEQ and 
EPA.
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    \33\ See Updated BART Applicability Screening Analysis Prepared 
by Trinity Consultants, November 9, 2015. Available in Appendix D of 
the 2017 Louisiana Regional Haze SIP.
    \34\ See October 10, 2016 Letter from Cleco Corporation to 
Vivian Aucoin and Vennetta Hayes, LDEQ, RE: Cleco Corporation 
Louisiana BART CAMx Modeling, included in Appendix B of the 2017 
Louisiana Regional Haze SIP submittal; CAMx Modeling Report, 
prepared for Entergy Services by Trinity Consultants, Inc. and All 4 
Inc, October 14, 2016, included in Appendix D of the 2017 Louisiana 
Regional Haze SIP submittal.
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    The commenters state that EPA should reconsider its evaluation of 
the submitted CAMx modeling, as the EPA's concerns about the accuracy 
of these modeling results are unfounded. Commenters provide additional 
specific comments addressing technical issues related to EPA's 
assessment of Cleco and Entergy's CAMx modeling analyses, refutes EPA's 
criticism in the proposed rule and TSD of this modeling, as well as 
comments concerning problems with EPA's own CAMx modeling methodology 
and performance evaluation. These specific comments also address 
deficiencies with the CALPUFF modeling system, including limitations on 
modeling at distances greater than 300km and the ability of the CALPUFF 
model to assess visibility impacts.
    Response: We disagree with the comments, and we agree with LDEQ 
that the CALPUFF modeling following the reviewed protocol is an 
appropriate tool for evaluating visibility impacts and benefits to 
inform a BART determination. Relying on the CALPUFF modeling results 
submitted by Cleco \35\ and Entergy,\36\ as well as EPA's review and 
additional CALPUFF modeling,\37\ included in the February 2017 and 
October 2017 SIP revisions, LDEQ concluded that the BART-eligible 
sources at Cleco Brame Energy Center and the Entergy Nelson, Waterford, 
Willow Glen, Ninemile Point, and Little Gypsy facilities have 
visibility impacts greater than 0.5 dv and are therefore subject to 
BART. We are finalizing our approval of LDEQ's subject to BART 
determinations for these EGU sources. Accordingly, LDEQ performed the 
required five-factor analyses and made BART determinations for these 
subject to BART sources. We agree with the commenters that CAMx 
provides a scientifically defendable platform for assessing visibility 
impacts over a wide range of source-to-receptor distances and is also 
more suited than some other modeling approaches for evaluating the 
impacts of SO2, NOX, VOC, and PM emissions, as it 
has a more robust chemistry mechanism. As we discuss below, we utilized 
CAMx to provide additional data and analysis for some large emission 
sources. However, CALPUFF is an appropriate tool for BART evaluations 
and remains the recommended model for BART.\38\ We are confident that 
CALPUFF distinguishes the relative contributions from sources such that 
the differences in source configurations, sizes, emission rates, and 
visibility impacts are well-reflected in the model results. We address 
specific comments concerning limitations on modeling distance and the 
ability of CALPUFF to assess visibility impacts from these sources in 
detail in the Modeling RTC. As discussed in the Modeling RTC document, 
EPA and FLM representatives have utilized CALPUFF results in a number 
of different situations when the range was between 300-450 km or 
more.\39\ We note that the Entergy Waterford, Willow Glen, Ninemile 
Point, and Little Gypsy facilities are located 217 km or less from the 
nearest Class I area. Therefore, the commenters concern regarding the 
use of CALPUFF modeling for distances greater than 300km is not 
relevant to the subject-to-BART determinations for these sources.
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    \35\ CALPUFF Modeling Report BART Applicability Screening 
Analysis: Cleco Corporation, Brame Energy Center, Teche Power 
Station, Prepared by Trinity Consultants, July 30, 2015. Available 
in Appendix B of the 2017 Louisiana Regional Haze SIP submittal.
    \36\ Updated BART Applicability Screening Analysis Prepared by 
Trinity Consultants, November 9, 2015. Available in Appendix D of 
the 2017 Louisiana Regional Haze SIP submittal.
    \37\ DRAFT Technical Support Document for Louisiana Regional 
Haze: CALPUFF Best Available Retrofit Technology Modeling Review, 
April 2017 (revised May 2017 to include Entergy Nelson). Available 
in Appendix F of the 2017 Louisiana Regional Haze SIP submittal. EPA 
performed additional modeling for Entergy Nelson to address 
identified errors in some emission estimates.
    \38\ 82 FR 5182, 5196 (Jan. 17, 2017). ``As detailed in the 
preamble of the proposed rule, it is important to note that the 
EPA's final action to remove CALPUFF as a preferred appendix A model 
in this Guideline does not affect its use under the FLM's guidance 
regarding AQRV assessments (FLAG 2010) nor any previous use of this 
model as part of regulatory modeling applications required under the 
CAA. Similarly, this final action does not affect the EPA's 
recommendation [See 70 FR 39104, 39122-23 (July 6, 2005)] that 
states use CALPUFF to determine the applicability and level of best 
available retrofit technology in regional haze implementation 
plans.''
    \39\ For example, South Dakota used CALPUFF for Big Stone's BART 
determination, including its impact on multiple Class I areas 
further than 400 km away, including Isle Royale, which is more than 
600 km away. See 76 FR 76656. Nebraska relied on CALPUFF modeling to 
evaluate whether numerous power plants were subject to BART where 
the ``Class I areas [were] located at distances of 300 to 600 
kilometers or more from'' the sources. See Best Available Retrofit 
Technology Dispersion Modeling Protocol for Selected Nebraska 
Utilities, p. 3. EPA Docket ID No. EPA-R07-OAR-2012-0158-0008. In 
our 2014 proposed action and the 2016 final action on Texas regional 
haze we approved the use of CALPUFF to screen BART-eligible non-EGU 
sources at distances of 400 to 614 km for some sources. 79 FR 74818 
(Dec. 16, 2014), 81 FR 296 (Jan. 5, 2016).
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    As we noted in our May 19, 2017 proposed action and CALPUFF 
Modeling TSD,\40\ the CALPUFF model is typically used for distances 
less than 300-400 km. Some of the BART-eligible sources in Louisiana 
are far away from Class I areas, yet have high enough emissions that 
they may significantly impact visibility at Class I areas in Louisiana 
and surrounding states. We performed additional modeling using CAMx to 
evaluate the visibility impacts and benefits of controls for the 
Entergy Nelson, Cleco Brame, and Big Cajun II

[[Page 60526]]

sources to address possible concerns with utilizing CALPUFF to assess 
visibility impacts at Class I areas located far from these large 
emission sources. LDEQ included this modeling in Appendix F of the 
October 26, 2017 SIP revision.\41\ Our CAMx modeling supports the 
determination made by LDEQ that Entergy Nelson and Cleco Brame cause or 
contribute to visibility impairment at nearby Class I areas and are 
therefore subject to BART. Entergy Nelson has a maximum modeled 
impact[thinsp]of 2.22 dv at Caney Creek, with 31 days out of the 365 
days modeled exceeding 0.5 dv, and 9 days exceeding 1.0 dv. Similarly, 
Cleco Brame has a maximum modeled impact of 2.833 dv at Caney Creek, 
with 30 days out of a maximum 365 days modeled exceeding 0.5 dv and 10 
days exceeding 1.0 dv. We disagree with the commenters and find that 
our CAMx modeling is consistent with the BART Guidelines and a previous 
modeling protocol we developed for the use of CAMx modeling for BART 
screening for sources in Texas. 42 43 We respond to specific 
comments concerning our CAMx modeling, including model inputs, model 
performance, our modeling protocol and the use of direct model results 
in detail in the Modeling RTC document.
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    \40\ 82 FR 32294 (May 19, 2017).
    \41\ DRAFT Technical Support Document for Louisiana Regional 
Haze: CAMx Best Available Retrofit Technology Modeling April 2017 
(Revised May 2017 to include Entergy Nelson). Available in Appendix 
F of the 2017 Louisiana Regional Haze SIP submittal.
    \42\ Texas had over 120 BART-eligible facilities located at a 
wide range of distances to the nearest class I areas in their 
original Regional Haze SIP. Due to the distances between sources and 
Class I areas and the number of sources, Texas worked with EPA and 
FLM representatives to develop a modeling protocol to conduct BART 
screening of sources using CAMx photochemical modeling. Texas was 
the only state that screened sources using CAMx and had a protocol 
developed for how the modeling was to be performed and what metrics 
had to be evaluated for determining if a source screened out. See 
Guidance for the Application of the CAMx Hybrid Photochemical Grid 
Model to Assess Visibility Impacts of Texas BART Sources at Class I 
Areas, ENVIRON International, December 13, 2007, available in the 
docket for this action.
    \43\ EPA, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), 
and FLM representatives verbally approved the approach in 2006 and 
in email exchange with TCEQ representatives in February 2007 (see 
email from Erik Snyder (EPA) to Greg Nudd of TCEQ Feb. 13, 2007 and 
response email from Greg Nudd to Erik Snyder Feb. 15, 2007, 
available in the docket for this action).
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    As we discuss in detail in our May 19, 2017 proposed action and 
CAMx Modeling TSD,\44\ the initial CAMx modeling, as well as the 
revised modeling submitted by Cleco and Entergy \45\ was not conducted 
in accordance with the BART Guidelines and the previous modeling 
protocol developed for the use of CAMx modeling for BART screening for 
sources in Texas and does not properly assess the maximum baseline 
impacts. We disagree with the commenters and consider this CAMx 
modeling in the February 2017 LA RH SIP, Appendices B and D, to be 
invalid for supporting any determination of visibility impacts below 
0.5 dv. As discussed in the CAMx Modeling TSD and in our Preliminary 
Review Response letter to Entergy and Cleco,\46\ the initial modeling 
deviated from the BART guidelines because it did not utilize emissions 
representative of maximum 24-hr actual emissions from the baseline 
period, did not evaluate the maximum modeled impact for all days, and 
did not calculate the deciview visibility impact based on a natural 
visibility background approach. We also review the revised modeling in 
detail in the CAMx Modeling TSD, identify a number of short comings in 
the revised approach, and conclude that it does not properly assess the 
maximum baseline impacts and is inconsistent with the BART Guidelines. 
We respond to specific comments concerning the CAMx modeling analyses 
developed by Trinity Consultants for Cleco and Entergy included in the 
February 2017 LA RH SIP at Appendices B and D in detail in the Modeling 
RTC.
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    \44\ 82 FR 32294, (May 19, 2017).
    \45\ February 10, 2017 LA RH SIP, Appendices B (Cleco) and D 
(Entergy).
    \46\ Technical Support Document for EPA's Proposed Action on the 
Louisiana Regional Haze State Implementation Plan, April 2017.
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B. NRG Big Cajun II

    Comment: NRG stated that it supports EPA's proposed approval of 
Louisiana's SIP revision, which determined that the Big Cajun II units 
are not subject to BART. NRG stated that Big Cajun II is not subject to 
BART, but even if it were, no further controls would be needed because 
the compliance actions NRG has taken for Mercury and Air Toxics 
Standards (MATS) and a consent decree,\47\ including installation of 
the existing dry sorbent injection (DSI) system, would be sufficient to 
meet BART. NRG asserted that, if the requirements set forth in the 
Consent Decree between Louisiana Generating \48\ and EPA do not satisfy 
BART, Louisiana Generating's five-factor analysis, which used a 
baseline based on operation of the existing DSI and represents a 
realistic depiction of anticipated annual emissions, indicates that no 
further controls are cost-effective and Big Cajun II's current 
configuration and emission controls satisfies BART.
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    \47\ The Consent Decree was agreed to and entered in U.S. of 
America and Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality vs. 
Louisiana Generating LLC, Civil Action No. 09-100-JJB-DLD (M. D. 
La.). Among other things, the CD requires Louisiana Generating to 
refuel Big Cajun II Unit 2 to natural gas, and install and 
continuously operate dry sorbent injection (DSI) at Big Cajun II 
Unit 1 while maintaining a 30-day rolling average SO2 
emission rate of no greater than 0.380 lb/MMBtu by no later than 
April 15, 2015. The CD also requires Louisiana Generating to retire, 
refuel, repower, or retrofit Big Cajun II Unit 1 by no later than 
April 1, 2025.
    \48\ NRG is the corporate entity that owns Louisiana Generating 
(LA Gen), which operates two plants in Louisiana, Big Cajun I and 
Big Cajun II.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Response: We agree that Big Cajun II is not subject to BART. Prior 
to the submittal of the February 2017 Regional Haze SIP, the LDEQ and 
Louisiana Generating entered into an AOC that made the existing control 
requirements and maximum daily emission limits permanent and 
enforceable for BART. The AOC is included in Louisiana's February 2017 
SIP revision. The modeling included in the February 10, 2017 SIP 
submittal (Appendix C) demonstrates that, with these existing controls 
and enforceable emission limits, Big Cajun II has modeled visibility 
impacts less than 0.5 dv at all impacted Class I areas, and therefore 
the facility is not subject to BART. We are finalizing our approval of 
Louisiana's determination in the SIP that the source is not subject to 
BART. Because the source was determined to not be subject to BART, LDEQ 
and EPA have made no determination of what controls, if any, would be 
necessary to satisfy BART had the source not screened out.

C. Cleco Brame Energy Center

    Comment: Cleco stated that it disagrees with the EPA that there is 
uncertainty in the cost-effectiveness of the enhanced DSI system for 
the Rodemacher 2 unit. Cleco stated that cost-effectiveness is 
calculated by adding annual operation and maintenance costs to the 
annualized capital cost of an option and then dividing by the reduction 
in annual emissions from a baseline period. Cleco asserted that, as the 
EPA acknowledged in its proposal, there are no capital costs associated 
with upgrading to an enhanced DSI system at Rodemacher 2. Rather, the 
only costs that Cleco will incur relate to additional reagent and 
associated waste disposal. Cleco stated that the cost of reagent that 
the company used in its five-factor analysis was based on actual 
contracts (currently in place) between the reagent supplier and Cleco. 
In addition, Cleco determined the reduction in emissions from the 
baseline period during actual unit testing. Therefore, Cleco believes 
that there is a high degree of certainty that

[[Page 60527]]

the cost-effectiveness value for an enhanced DSI system is $967/ton.
    Cleco also disagrees with the EPA that there is ``uncertainty'' 
with respect to the cost-effectiveness estimates for the dry scrubbing 
(Spray Dry Absorption or SDA) and wet scrubbing (wet Flue Gas 
Desulfurization, or wet FGD) options. The estimates were prepared for 
Cleco by the engineering firm Sargent & Lundy (S&L). S&L is a full-
service engineering consulting firm providing expertise in all areas of 
power plant engineering and design. S&L has considerable experience 
with the federal and state environmental regulations affecting power 
plant operations, as well as the specification, evaluation selection, 
and implementation of emission control technologies for both gas and 
coal-fueled utility power facilities, including extensive experience 
with various FGD technologies. For example, since 2000, S&L has 
provided, or is currently providing, engineering services for the 
implementation of over 40 wet FGD projects, 30 dry FGD projects, and 25 
DSI projects, all of which are technologies that were analyzed as part 
of the Five-Factor Analysis. As such, S&L is qualified to develop 
capital and O&M cost estimates for these control analyses.
    Cost estimates for the Rodemacher 2 unit were prepared in 
accordance with the BART Guidelines and the methodology described in 
EPA's Control Cost Manual and represent study-level cost estimates. 
Capital costs for major equipment were developed using equipment costs 
for similarly sized units (adjusted for actual equipment sizing), site-
specific balance-of plant (BOP) project-specific indirect cost factors. 
Where possible, default factors from EPA's Control Cost Manual were 
used to calculate indirect costs.
    The capital cost estimates were provided to LDEQ and EPA for both 
the wet FGD and SDA options identifying the major cost categories, 
including civil work, concrete, steel, mechanical equipment, material 
handling, electrical, piping, controls and instrumentation. In 
addition, detailed cost effectiveness worksheets were provided to LDEQ 
and EPA identifying the variable O&M costs (e.g., reagent, waste 
disposal, auxiliary power and water), indirect operating costs (e.g., 
property taxes, insurance, and administrative services) and fixed O&M 
costs (e.g., operating personnel, maintenance material and labor) for 
both the SDA and wet FGD options. The indirect and fixed operating 
costs were based on factors provided in EPA's Control Cost Manual.
    Cleco, however, agrees with EPA that the Total Capital Cost figure 
for the SDA option should be $378,318,000. The capital cost for the 
fabric filter and associated auxiliaries were inadvertently included 
twice in the Total Capital Cost figure line item. As such, the cost 
effectiveness for the SDA option should be $6,893/ton, not $8,589/ton. 
See attachment Cleco RPS2 S02 Worksheets_2010-2014 Baseline--Rev I. 
Regardless, the cost-effectiveness of the SDA and wet FGD options are 
significantly higher in comparison to the enhanced DSI option with 
minimal incremental visibility improvement. Cleco nevertheless agrees 
with LDEQ and EPA that an enhanced DSI system meets BART for the 
Rodemacher 2 unit.
    Response: We agree that the cost effectiveness figures presented in 
Cleco's Five Factor Analysis included in the February 2017 LA RH SIP, 
Appendix B, are reasonable, as we stated in our April 2017 Technical 
Support Document (April 2017 TSD).\49\ ``However, because DSI and a 
fabric filter baghouse are already installed and operational, the cost-
effectiveness of Cleco's enhanced DSI is based only on the cost of the 
additional reagent and no additional capital costs are involved. 
Consequently, we believe that the uncertainty of Cleco's enhanced DSI 
cost-effectiveness figures is low and that Cleco's estimated cost-
effectiveness of $967/ton is reasonable.'' \50\
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    \49\ Technical Support Document for EPA's Proposed Action on the 
Louisiana Regional Haze State Implementation Plan, April 2017.
    \50\ Id. at 19.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We agree with Cleco's correction to the capital costs provided for 
SDA, and that the total capital cost figure based on Cleco's cost 
estimate should have been $378,318,000. The estimated cost 
effectiveness for SDA in their analysis is $6,893/ton, rather than 
$8,589/ton as stated in the Cleco cost analysis.\51\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \51\ See Appendix B of the February 2017 LA RH SIP.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As discussed in the April 2017 TSD, Cleco did not supply complete 
documentation for its cost analysis for SDA and wet FGD for Rodemacher 
2, including details to support total direct cost and total capital 
cost figures. Based on our experience reviewing and conducting control 
cost analyses for many other similar types of facilities, Cleco's 
estimates appear high and without complete documentation, some 
uncertainty exists with respect to Cleco's cost-effectiveness estimates 
for SDA and wet FGD--$6,893/ton and $5,580/ton, respectively. For 
example, our estimated cost-effectiveness for similar equipment at 
Nelson Unit 6 is approximately $3000/ton.
    We noted, however, that because DSI and a fabric filter baghouse 
are already installed and operational, the cost-effectiveness of 
Cleco's enhanced DSI is based only on the cost of the additional 
reagent and no additional capital costs are involved. In contrast to 
enhanced DSI, SDA and wet FGD, require the installation of controls and 
significant capital costs. We recognize the low cost effectiveness 
value of enhanced DSI. We also recognize the potentially high 
incremental costs of obtaining 0.1-0.2 dv of visibility improvement 
through SDA or wet FGD. Therefore, we are finalizing our approval of 
LDEQ's conclusion that enhanced DSI is SO2 BART for the 
Rodemacher 2, with a SO2 emission limit of 0.30 lbs/MMBtu on 
a 30 day rolling basis.
    Comment: EPA's proposed determination [for Cleco's Brame Unit 2 
(Rodemacher 2)] that enhanced DSI constitutes BART due to it being more 
cost-effective than FGD or scrubber given the small amount of 
additional visibility improvement that would be achieved with FGD or 
SDA is incorrect. EPA admitted it did not know the cost of scrubbers 
and therefore could not make the determination that scrubbers were not 
cost effective. Additionally, EPA recognized in its proposal that the 
costs submitted by Cleco were likely too high. EPA provided no 
discussion concerning the range of cost-effectiveness values for wet 
FGD that the agency would deem sufficient to justify the incremental 
visibility improvement relative to enhanced DSI. Nothing in the 
guidance, statute, or federal rules indicates that incremental costs 
should be dispositive in a BART determination. EPA must correct the 
State's mistakes and provide an accurate estimate of the costs and 
cost-effectiveness of controls, including enhanced DSI, dry FGD, and 
wet FGD.
    Had EPA or Louisiana developed an accurate cost analysis, it is 
clear that either a wet or dry FGD at Rodemacher 2 would be well within 
the range of controls that EPA has previously determined are cost 
effective. First, with respect to dry FGD systems, it does not appear 
that Louisiana or EPA evaluated accurate removal efficiencies of 
various dry FGD systems, especially with the low sulfur coal that is 
used. SDAs can achieve emission rates lower than 0.06 lb/MMBtu and 
SO2 removal efficiencies greater than 95% control.\52\ 
Indeed,

[[Page 60528]]

Louisiana failed entirely to evaluate dry FGD systems, such as 
circulating dry scrubbers (CDS) that are commonly used in the industry 
and vastly understated the removal efficiencies associated with those 
controls. The Alstom Novel Integrated Desulfurization system 
(NIDTM), has been selected as the most cost effective 
scrubber option when compared to other technologies in several recent 
evaluations. Second, with respect to the dry FGD systems that the State 
did evaluate, it significantly overstated the costs of such control 
technologies. Together, these errors significantly overstated the cost-
effectiveness of dry FGD systems. When those errors are corrected the 
cost-effectiveness of dry FGD control technology is well within the 
range of costs that EPA has previously found reasonable.\53\ SDA at a 
controlled emission rate of 0.06 lb/MMBtu is estimated to be $2,908/
ton. SDA or NIDTM CDS is estimated to be $2,808/ton with a 
controlled emission rate of 0.04 lb/MMBtu.
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    \52\ For example, the Newmont Nevada power plant (aka TS Power 
Plant), equipped with a dry lime FGD system, has achieved an annual 
average SO2 rate of 0.034 lb/MMBtu over 2009 to 2016. The 
Wygen II power plant is also equipped with a dry lime scrubber and 
burns low sulfur coal, and is achieving annual average 
SO2 rates of 0.048 lb/MMBtu. The Dry Fork Station which 
began operation in 2011 and is equipped with a dry lime scrubber is 
achieving an annual average SO2 rate of 0.050 lb/MMBtu. 
See Technical Support Document to Comments of Conservation 
Organizations, Prepared by Victoria R. Stamper, June 18, 2017.
    \53\ BART controls have been approved that have an average cost-
effectiveness of more than $5,500 per ton. See 77 FR 31,692, 31,711 
(May 29, 2012) and 77 FR 61478, 61506 (Oct. 9, 2012) (requiring 
SO2 BART controls with an average cost-effectiveness of 
$5,587, $5,583, and $5,583 for the Kanoelehua, Puna, and Shipman 
power plants). Other final BART determinations have been only 
slightly less expensive than the costs here. See, e.g., 77 FR 18052, 
18082, 18084, 18087 (Mar. 26, 2012) (approval of Colorado's SIP) and 
77 FR 76871 (Dec. 31, 2012) (requiring NOX BART controls 
with an average cost-effectiveness of $4,887 for Craig Unit 3).
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    These supplemental cost analyses, using the same IPM cost 
spreadsheets used by EPA in its proposed Texas BART analysis,\54\ 
demonstrate that Louisiana's cost analyses for a dry FGD system are 
greatly overstated.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \54\ 82 FR 912 (January 4, 2017).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Louisiana's cost calculations for wet FGD controls at Rodemacher 2 
are also erroneous. Contrary to Louisiana's evaluation, wet FGDs can 
achieve much lower SO2 emission rates than the 0.04 lb/MMBtu 
assumed by the State. Indeed, coupled with low sulfur Powder River 
Basin coal, new wet FGD scrubbers can achieve emission reductions 
greater than 95%, and are capable of achieving SO2 emission 
rates of 0.02 lb/MMBtu. Even assuming a 0.04 lb/MMBtu emission rate, an 
accurate cost effectiveness evaluation demonstrates that a wet FGD 
system could be installed for $2,947/ton of SO2 removed, 
which is well within the range of costs that EPA has found reasonable--
most recently in the agency's proposed BART determinations for Texas. 
Moreover, BART controls have been approved that would lead to equal, or 
less, visibility improvement than achievable with wet or dry scrubbers 
at Rodemacher 2.
    The commenter states that their supplemental cost analyses of 
either wet FGD or dry FGD at Brame Unit 2 (Rodemacher 2) show that the 
costs of either a wet or a dry FGD system are very reasonable, in that 
other similar sources have had to bear similar costs for pollution 
control to address BART and regional haze requirements. The incremental 
costs of installing a dry FGD or a wet FGD system at Brame Unit 2 
compared to DSI plus a baghouse are very reasonable and thus should not 
be the basis for rejecting a dry or wet FGD system at Brame Unit 2. 
Considering the additional SO2 reductions and improved 
visibility benefits of installing the more effective controls of a dry 
or wet scrubber compared to DSI, EPA should have based its 
SO2 BART determination on either wet or dry FGD for Brame 
Unit 2.
    Response: We agree with the comment that in some cases SDA and wet 
FGD may achieve lower emission rates than those evaluated. We evaluated 
the control capabilities of SDA and wet FGD in our action on Oklahoma 
BART.\55\ There we determined that reduction efficiencies of up to 95% 
or as low as 0.06 lb/MMBtu SO2 for dry scrubbers and 97%-98% 
removal efficiency or an outlet SO2 of 0.04 lb/MMBtu for wet 
scrubbers are appropriate levels for the BART evaluation for units when 
burning low sulfur coals.\56\ These limits are a reasonable estimate of 
potential control and we have consistently used these emission limits 
in our evaluation of controls for similar units in Texas and 
Arkansas.\57\ We disagree with the comment that the analysis in the 
February 2017 SIP is deficient because CDS was not evaluated. CDS is a 
variation on SDA with similar costs and reduction efficiency as the 
more widely used SDA design. As the commenters note, CDS annual costs 
are estimated to only be about 1-2% lower than the annual costs of an 
SDA.
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    \55\ 76 FR 16168 (March 22, 2011); 76 FR 81728 (Dec. 28, 2011).
    \56\ See Appendix C to the Oklahoma TSD, available at 
regulations.gov, Document ID: EPA-R06-OAR-2010-0190-0018.
    \57\ 82 FR 912 (January 4, 2017), 80 FR 18943 (April 8, 2015).
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    We disagree with the comment concerning consideration of 
incremental costs. The BART Guidelines state that while the average 
costs (total annual cost/total annual emission reductions) for two 
control options each may be deemed to be reasonable, the incremental 
cost of the additional emission reductions to be achieved by option 2 
may be very great. In such an instance, it may be inappropriate to 
choose option 2, based on its high incremental costs, even though its 
average cost may be considered reasonable.\58\ LDEQ reviewed all the 
available information and determined that the amount of visibility 
benefit achieved from SDA or wet FGD over enhanced DSI was not large 
enough to justify the additional cost of these controls at Rodemacher 
2. EPA's regulations under the CAA ``do not require uniformity between 
. . . actions in all circumstances and instead `allow for some 
variation' in actions taken in different regions.'' 81 FR at 326 
(quoting Amendments to Regional Consistency Requirements, 80 FR 50250, 
at 50258 (Aug. 19, 2015)). Some variation is to be expected because SIP 
actions are highly fact-dependent. The state weighed the factors 
considering all available information, in the February 10, 2017 SIP, 
and concluded that enhanced DSI is BART for this unit. The CAA allows 
EPA to review all the information in the SIP submittal and any other 
publicly available information to make its decision whether it agrees 
the state's determination meets the applicable requirements. After 
reviewing the relevant information, we determined that the State's SIP 
meets the requirements of the Act and the applicable regulations and 
guidance.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \58\ 40 CFR part 51, Appendix Y, IV(D)(e)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In our review of the cost estimates, we noted a lack of 
documentation and uncertainty in the Cleco cost-estimates for SDA and 
wet FGD. We noted, however, that because DSI and a fabric filter 
baghouse are already installed and operational, the cost-effectiveness 
of Cleco's enhanced DSI is based only on the cost of the additional 
reagent and no additional capital costs are involved. The cost-
effectiveness of enhanced DSI was estimated to be $967/ton.\59\ In 
contrast to enhanced DSI, SDA and wet FGD require the installation of 
controls and significant capital costs. Cleco's cost-effectiveness 
estimates for SDA and wet FGD are $6,893/ton and $5,580/ton, 
respectively, while the commenter's estimate the costs of SDA, 
NIDTM CDS and wet FGD to be approximately $2,800/ton or 
greater.\60\ When the

[[Page 60529]]

already sunk capital costs of the existing DSI system are removed, the 
incremental annual cost of enhanced DSI is estimated to be only 
$1,695,300/yr. Even accounting for the potential issues in Cleco's SDA 
and wet FGD cost analyses and considering the commenter's cost 
estimates, we are cognizant of the enhanced DSI's low cost-
effectiveness, and the incremental costs of obtaining the additional 
0.1-0.2 dv of visibility improvement that can be achieved by SDA, CDS 
or wet FGD over enhanced DSI are high. Therefore, we are finalizing our 
approval of LDEQ's conclusion that the amount of visibility benefit 
achieved from SDA or wet FGD over enhanced DSI was not large enough to 
justify the additional cost of these controls and enhanced DSI is 
SO2 BART for the Rodemacher 2, with a SO2 
emission limit of 0.30 lbs/MMBtu on a 30 day rolling basis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \59\ LA RH SIP (February 2017), Appendix B.
    \60\ Technical Support Document to Comments of Conservation 
Organizations (Stamper Report), Prepared By: Vivian R Stamper (June 
18, 2017).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Comment: With respect to the analysis for the Rodemacher 2 unit, 
EPA stated the following concerning enhanced DSI:

    In considering enhanced DSI, Cleco relied upon on-site testing 
it had conducted to determine the performance potential of an 
enhanced DSI system. The testing was conducted to evaluate the 
effectiveness of the DSI system to control hydrochloric acid for 
compliance with the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), but the 
continuous emissions monitor system (CEMS) was operating and 
capturing SO2 emissions data during the test, which 
provided the necessary information to determine the control 
efficiency of DSI and enhanced DSI for SO2.

    82 FR 22936. On page 19 of the related TSD, EPA further stated:

    Cleco also did not provide the DSI testing information, which 
creates a degree of uncertainty concerning the potential control 
level of its current DSI system and the enhanced DSI system it 
reviews. Another concern was that the DSI testing that Cleco relied 
on was not intended to evaluate DSI for SO2 control 
efficiency, which caused some uncertainty concerning the potential 
control level of DSI and enhanced DSI.

    Cleco disagrees that there is a ``degree of uncertainty'' 
concerning the potential SO2 control level of the current 
DSI system or the enhanced DSI system. Although the testing conducted 
was based on operating the system to determine removal of hydrogen 
chloride (HCl), the Rodemacher 2 unit operated a SO2 
continuous emission monitoring system (CEMS) that gathered valid, real-
time SO2 emissions data that demonstrated the achievable 
reductions. The data gathered by the SO2 CEMS is the same 
data submitted to EPA's Air Markets Program Data on a quarterly basis. 
Cleco, therefore, does not believe that a degree of uncertainty exists 
with respect to the SO2 control level.
    As stated in the BART Five-Factor Analysis submitted to LDEQ,\61\ 
two performance tests were conducted at very high injection rates to 
determine the removal that could be achieved while operating the DSI 
system at close to the maximum design injection rate. The first test 
was performed at 12,000 lb/hr, which showed an average removal of 66% 
SO2 and the second test was conducted at 4,000 lb/hr, which 
showed an average removal of 63% SO2. Both tests were 
conducted at injection rates significantly higher than the current DSI 
rate of 1,500 lb/hr. Although the system is designed to inject up to 
17,800 lb/hr of Trona, there would be close to no benefit in additional 
SO2 reduction since increasing the injection rate by 300% 
(from 4,000 lb/hr to 12,000 lb/hr) only provided an additional 3% 
SO2 reduction on average. Based on the foregoing, Cleco 
believes there is a high degree of certainty regarding the control 
levels achievable for the current DSI and enhanced DSI systems.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \61\ LA RH SIP (February 2017), Appendix B.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We also received comments from environmental groups \62\ stating 
that Cleco evaluated two levels of control with DSI: DSI to meet an 
SO2 limit of 0.41 lb/MMBtu and ``enhanced DSI'' to meet an 
SO2 limit of 0.30 lb/MMBtu. These proposed limits were based 
on testing done on-site that Cleco conducted to determine the 
performance potential of enhanced DSI. However, Cleco did not submit 
the testing as part of the record for the BART determination. Further, 
the testing was not done to evaluate SO2 removal efficiency 
and was instead done to optimize hydrogen chloride control efficiency. 
Presumably, Cleco did not concurrently evaluate uncontrolled 
SO2 emissions, and thus the accuracy of the assumed 
SO2 removal efficiencies with DSI and enhanced DSI of 39% 
and 63% is questionable.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \62\ See Stamper Report (attached as Technical Support Document 
to Conservation Organizations June 18, 2017 comment letter).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Further, Brame Unit 2 (Rodemacher 2) is already achieving the 
assumed ``enhanced DSI'' level of control of 0.30 lb/MMBtu 
SO2 rate with the current DSI operations which are being 
implemented to meet the MATS hydrogen chloride limit. Based on data in 
EPA's Air Markets Program Database, the average monthly SO2 
emission rate at Brame Unit 2 was 0.26 lb/MMBtu from June 2015 through 
the first quarter of 2017. While there have been a few months with 
monthly SO2 emission rates in excess of 0.30 lb/MMBtu, the 
large majority of monthly SO2 emission rates at Brame Unit 2 
have been at or well below 0.30 lb/MMBtu. Thus, there does not seem to 
be much if any enhancement needed to achieve 0.30 lb/MMBtu with DSI and 
a baghouse. Cleco should therefore have assumed a 0.30 lb/MMBtu 
SO2 limit, or even lower, as achievable with the currently 
operated DSI and baghouse. Given that the unit is already achieving a 
0.30 lb/MMBtu level, it does appear likely any lower SO2 
emission rates could be achieved with DSI ``enhancements.''
    Response: We agree with the commenter that the available testing 
data demonstrates that increasing the injection rate beyond 4,000 lb/hr 
(63% removal) results in minimal increased removal efficiency. As we 
discussed in our TSD and identified by the commenter above, because the 
DSI testing was not performed to examine optimization of SO2 
removal and Cleco did not provide sufficient detail with regard to how 
the testing was conducted, we noted ``some uncertainty'' in the 
potential control levels for DSI and enhanced DSI. For example, it is 
unclear if the testing evaluated a range of fuel sulfur content or heat 
input rates. We therefore reviewed available emissions data from the 
unit from when the DSI became operational in March 2015 through the end 
of 2016 and found that based on that information \63\ covering a range 
of actual operations, as well as the provided testing data, Louisiana's 
selection of 0.30 lbs/MMBtu on a rolling 30-day basis for 
SO2 is reasonable for an enhanced DSI system on the 
Rodemacher 2 unit.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \63\ See Figure 1 and accompanying discussion on page 18 of the 
TSD associated with our May 2017 proposed approval.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We agree with the comment that recent emission data from June 2015 
through the first quarter of 2017 demonstrates the ability to emit at 
or below 0.3 lb/MMBtu on a monthly basis. However, as also noted by the 
commenter, monthly emission rates with the current operation of the 
existing DSI system have also exceeded 0.3 lb/MMBtu at times during 
that same period. For example, the average monthly emission rate in 
December 2016 was 0.39 lb/MMBtu. The available testing data 
demonstrates that the unit is already equipped to operate the existing 
DSI and fabric filter at a range of injection rates, including the 
higher injection rates evaluated in the BART analysis, as ``enhanced 
DSI.'' In order to achieve the emission rate specified in Louisiana's 
BART determination of 0.30 lbs/MMBtu for SO2, made permanent 
and enforceable in the AOC, Cleco will

[[Page 60530]]

have to operate the existing DSI system at higher injection rates to 
maintain future emissions below 0.3 lb/MMBtu on a rolling 30-day basis.

D. Entergy Nelson

    Comment: LDEQ commented that EPA's cost analysis did not alter its 
initial conclusion presented in its February 2017 RH SIP submittal that 
BART was ``no further control.''
    Response: In its October 2017 Regional Haze SIP submittal, LDEQ 
stated that, after a weighing of the five factors and after a review of 
both Entergy's and EPA's information, ``BART is the emission limit of 
0.6 lbs/MMBtu based on a 30 day rolling average as defined in the AOC . 
. . LDEQ believes, at present, that the use of lower sulfur coal 
presents the appropriate SO2 control based on consideration 
of economics, energy impacts, non-air quality environmental impacts, 
and impacts to visibility.'' \64\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \64\ Louisiana Regional Haze SIP, October 2017.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Comment: Entergy supports the proposed limit for Nelson Unit 6 but 
disagrees that the Control Cost Manual disallows certain costs such as 
escalation during construction and owner's costs.\65\ These are actual 
costs that will be incurred during construction and that should have 
been included in the costs for each add-on control technology 
evaluated. Entergy also disagrees with EPA's reduction in the 
contingency factor from 25% to 10%. EPA has provided no justification 
for its use of 10% for the contingency factor, over than that it is 
``in the middle of the range employed in the Control Cost Manual.'' 
\66\ The costs that Entergy submitted in its BART Five-Factor Analysis 
for Nelson \67\ are a more accurate estimate of the actual costs for 
controls at Nelson Unit 6 than the more generic costs that EPA assumed. 
However, even accepting EPA's cost calculations, the costs of 
installing SO2 controls are too high to constitute BART in 
light of the distance of Nelson from the nearest Class I areas and the 
minor visibility benefit expected to be achieved by such controls. 
Based on an evaluation of the five statutory factors required for a 
BART analysis, LDEQ appropriately concluded that low sulfur coal 
constitutes SO2 BART for Nelson 6. As Entergy concluded in 
the Nelson Five-Factor analysis, ``no visibility improvement can 
reasonably be anticipated to result from the installation of 
[SO2] controls. Furthermore, the cost of each of the add-on 
[SO2] control options for Unit 6 is estimated as $3 billion 
or more per dv improvement.'' \68\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \65\ 82 FR at 32298.
    \66\ TSD for EPA's Proposed Action on the Louisiana State 
Implementation Plan for the Entergy Nelson Facility, at page 18 
(June 2017), Docket No. EPA-R06-OAR-2017-0129-0025.
    \67\ Nelson Five-Factor Analysis.
    \68\ Nelson Five-Factor Analysis, at 4-6.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Response: We disagree with commenters' assertions that Allowance 
for Funds Used During Construction (AFUDC) should be incorporated into 
our cost analysis, as the practice of incorporating AFUDC is 
contradictory to the Cost Control Manual (CCM) methodology.\69\ The 
utility industry uses a method known as ``levelized costing'' to 
conduct its internal comparisons, which is different from the methods 
specified by the CCM. Utilities use ``levelized costing'' to allow them 
to recover project costs over a period of several years and, as a 
result, realize a reasonable return on their investment. The CCM uses 
an approach sometimes referred to as overnight costing, which treats 
the costs of a project as if the project were completed ``overnight,'' 
with no construction period and no interest accrual. Since assets under 
construction do not provide service to current customers, utilities 
cannot charge the interest and allowed return on equity associated with 
these assets to customers while under construction. Under the 
``levelized costing'' methodology, AFUDC capitalizes the interest and 
return on equity that would accrue over the construction period and 
adds them to the rate base when construction is completed and the 
assets are used. Although it is included in capital costs, AFUDC 
primarily represents a tool for utilities to capture their cost of 
borrowing and return on equity during construction periods. AFUDC is 
not allowed as a capitalized cost associated with a pollution control 
device under CCM's overnight costing methodology and is specifically 
disallowed for SCRs (ie., set to zero) in the CCM.\70\ Therefore, in 
reviewing other BART determinations, EPA has consistently excluded 
AFUDC.\71\ EPA's position regarding exclusion of AFUDC has been upheld 
in the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.\72\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \69\ EPA Air Pollution Control Cost Manual, Sixth Edition, EPA/
452/B-02-001, January 2002 available at http://www.epa.gov/ttncatc1/dir1/c_allchs.pdf.
    \70\ CCM (Tables 1.4 and 2.5 show AFUDC value as zero).
    \71\ See, e.g., 77 FR 20894, 20916-17 (Apr. 6, 2012) (explaining 
in support of the North Dakota Regional Haze FIP, ``we maintain that 
following the overnight method ensures equitable BART determinations 
* * *. ''); 76 FR 52388, 52399-400 (August 22, 2011) (explaining in 
the New Mexico Regional Haze FIP that the Manual does not allow 
AFUDC)
    \72\ Ariz. ex. rel. Darwin v. U.S. EPA, 815 F,3d 519 (9th Cir. 
2016).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In the TSD we discuss Entergy's selection of contingency factor. 
There, we state that we are not aware of any characteristics of Nelson 
Unit 6 that would present any unusual difficulty distinguishing it from 
any other scrubber retrofit, and thus justifying a high estimate for 
contingency. The CCM uses contingency values ranging from 5 to 15%, 
depending upon the control device in question and the precise nature of 
the factors requiring contingency. Entergy has not provided any 
additional information to support the use of a contingency factor 
outside of this range. The CCM clarifies that a contingency factor 
should be reserved (and applied to) only those items that could incur a 
reasonable but unanticipated increase but are not directly related to 
the demolition, fabrication, and installation of the system. We used a 
contingency value of 10% for our analysis and adjustment of Entergy's 
costs, which lies in the middle of the range employed in the CCM. We 
believe this value is appropriate for mature technologies such as SDA 
and wet FGD.\73\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \73\ ``EIA lists 748 SO2 scrubber installations in 
operation in 2015. Of these, 296 are listed as being spray type wet 
scrubbers, with an additional 42 listed as being tray type wet 
scrubbers. An additional 269 are listed as being spray dry absorber 
types.'' See pg 8 of Technical Support Document for EPA's Proposed 
Action on the Louisiana State Implementation Plan for the Entergy 
Nelson Facility, June 2017.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We disagree with the commenter's conclusion that no visibility 
improvement can reasonably be anticipated to result from the 
installation of SO2 controls and that visibility benefits of 
scrubbers cost $3 billion/dv or more. This conclusion and estimate in 
Entergy's Nelson Five-Factor analysis, is based on its CAMx modeling 
analysis. As we discuss in detail in the CAMx Modeling TSD and in our 
Modeling RTC document, we consider this submitted CAMx modeling to be 
invalid for supporting any determination of visibility impacts. The 
results of Entergy's CALPUFF modeling and EPA's CALPUFF and CAMx 
modeling assessing the visibility benefits of controls on this unit are 
included in Appendix D and F of the October 2017 LA RH SIP.
    LDEQ reviewed all the available information including the modeling 
provided by EPA and determined ``that additional visibility benefits 
may be available through the use of FGD.'' The state, however, weighed 
the factors considering all available information

[[Page 60531]]

contained in the SIP submittal, and concluded that ``the use of lower 
sulfur coal presents the appropriate SO2 control based on 
consideration of economics, energy impacts, non-air quality 
environmental impacts, and impacts to visibility.''
    We also note that we disagree with the use of the dollar per 
deciview metric as the only cost effectiveness metric in BART 
determinations. We discuss this in detail in our Response to Comments 
on our final action on Oklahoma Regional Haze.\74\ Our decision to not 
rely on a $/dv metric was reviewed and upheld in by the Tenth 
Circuit.\75\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \74\ Response to Technical Comments for Sections E. through H. 
of the Federal Register Notice for the Oklahoma Regional Haze and 
Visibility Transport Federal Implementation Plan, Docket No. EPA-
R06-OAR-2010-0190, 12/13/2011, pdf 116.
    \75\ Oklahoma v. EPA, 723 F.3d 1201 (10th Cir. 2013).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Comment: The State makes the claim that a scrubber should be 
rejected because of the environmental impacts of waste generated by a 
scrubber. EPA reached the opposite conclusion, stating that FGD and DSI 
``do not present any significant or unusual environmental impacts.'' 
Moreover, the State ignores that the cost to dispose of scrubber wastes 
is included in the cost model for a scrubber, as EPA points out. 
Allowing Nelson to emit 0.6 lb/MMBtu of SO2 is a ten-fold 
increase in the SO2 emissions rate relative to the 0.06 lb/
MMBtu which a scrubber can achieve.\76\ In the name of considering 
environmental impacts, the State chose the option that will lead to the 
greatest amount of air pollution. This is not rational decision making, 
it runs counter to the statutory mandate for the haze program, and it 
is not approvable. We are unaware of any similar state or EPA decision 
for a haze SIP. EPA has cited no precedent for approving a State's 
selection of the least-effective pollution control on the basis that 
more effective pollution controls allegedly are worse for the 
environment.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \76\ See Stamper Report at 6-7, 9-10 (attached as Technical 
Support Document to Conservation Organizations June 18, 2017 comment 
letter).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition, the State fails to consider that a dry scrubber 
generates far less waste than a wet scrubber. And scrubber wastewater 
can be treated with available technologies to dramatically reduce 
environmental impacts. See 80 FR 67838 (Nov. 3, 2015). The State's 
rejection of a scrubber because of the auxiliary power needed to run a 
scrubber is without merit. All of the cost calculations for a scrubber 
reviewed by the State--both EPA's and Entergy's--included the energy 
cost to run the scrubber. Thus, the energy cost is not a separate 
consideration, and is not a separate basis for rejecting a scrubber. 
Just as we are aware of no example of EPA approving the rejection of a 
scrubber on the basis of scrubber wastes, we are not aware of any EPA 
decision approving the rejection of a scrubber because of the auxiliary 
power costs.
    Response: We disagree with the commenter's characterization of the 
State's consideration of the energy and non-air quality environmental 
impacts. The consideration of these impacts is required as part of the 
BART determination. LDEQ stated in the October 2017 SIP:

    While additional visibility benefits may be available through 
the use of FGD, the lower sulfur coal option results in visibility 
benefits at a lower annual cost. In addition, FGD use results in 
additional waste due to spent reagent and has some power demands to 
run the equipment. LDEQ believes, at present, that the use of lower 
sulfur coal presents the appropriate S02 control based on 
consideration of economics, energy impacts, non-air quality 
environmental impacts, and impacts to visibility.\77\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \77\ October 2017 LA RH SIP submission.

    LDEQ did not reject additional controls solely on the basis of the 
non-air quality environmental impacts or energy impacts associated with 
those controls. LDEQ identified the impacts associated with each 
control level as required, noting the difference between the lower 
sulfur coal option and additional add-on controls. LDEQ considered all 
of the available information, including EPA's analysis of the 
associated impacts and costs, and weighed all the factors in making the 
BART determination for Nelson Unit 6.
    Comment: EPA cannot possibly have discharged its obligation to 
ensure that the State's BART determination is ``reasonably moored to 
the Act's provisions,'' Alaska Dep't of Envtl. Conservation, 540 U.S. 
at 485, because EPA claims it was ``unable to verify any of the 
company's costs,'' 82 FR at 32298, and could review only the ``general 
description of the modeling protocol'' that Entergy used. See Appendix 
F, CAMx Modeling TSD at 30. It is axiomatic that EPA cannot approve a 
plan where the agency is unable to review and verify the accuracy of 
the analysis on which the plan is based. See Motor Vehicle Mfrs. Ass'n 
of U.S., Inc. v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 463 U.S. 29, 43 (1983) 
(``[T]he agency must examine the relevant data and articulate a 
satisfactory explanation for its action including a `rational 
connection between the facts found and the choice made.' '') (emphasis 
added) (quoting Burlington Truck Lines v. United States, 371 U.S. 156, 
168 (1962)).
    Response: We disagree with the comment. While we noted in our 
proposal that we were unable to verify the company's costs and that we 
reviewed a general description of Entergy's modeling protocol, we also 
noted that we conducted our own independent cost analysis and CAMx 
modeling.\78\ EPA's cost and visibility analyses were included by LDEQ 
as a part of its October 2017 SIP submission (Appendix F) and were 
included in the information considered by the State in making its BART 
determination. LDEQ considered all the information contained in the SIP 
submittal, including information submitted by Entergy, EPA's review of 
that information, and EPA's additional analyses. As a result, LDEQ had 
adequate information upon which to base its determination.\79\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \78\ 82 FR 32294 (August 14, 2017).
    \79\ In response to comments from the Conservation Groups and 
inquiries from EPA regarding its cost analysis, Entergy submitted a 
Technical Memorandum clarifying the approach used in its cost 
analysis. See, Technical Memorandum from Ken Snell, Dated December 
6, 2017, Subject: Nelson Unit 6 BART Cost Estimates. Entergy stated 
although the specific details in the cost estimate are generated 
from proprietary databases, EPA could do a meaningful review of the 
cost estimates based on the information included in the submitted 
analysis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Comment: Neither the State nor EPA offered a rational basis for 
rejecting a scrubber and EPA did not offer a rational basis for 
approving the State's decision. The State did not explain why it 
rejected a control with cost-effectiveness and visibility improvement 
values which so many other states, and EPA, have found reasonable for 
BART determinations. And EPA has not explained how it can approve the 
rejection of a scrubber when the cost-effectiveness and visibility 
improvement values are within the range that EPA has found reasonable 
in so many other haze rulemakings. See generally 42 U.S.C. 7410(k)(3) 
(requiring EPA to review each SIP submission to ensure compliance with 
the Act), id. sec. 7410(l) (barring EPA approval of a SIP submission 
that interferes with any applicable requirement of the Act); Oklahoma 
v. EPA, 723 F.3d at 1208-09 (holding that ``the statute mandates that 
the EPA must ensure SIPs comply with the statute'' and upholding EPA's 
disapproval of the Oklahoma regional haze plan because Oklahoma 
``failed to follow the [BART] guidelines'').
    EPA cannot approve the State's plan because EPA concluded that the 
analysis the State relied on is riddled with errors; approving such a 
plan is

[[Page 60532]]

arbitrary and capricious. EPA identified multiple errors in Entergy's 
cost and visibility analyses--errors which Entergy and the State 
refused to correct, e.g., escalation during construction and owner's 
costs, a contingency of 25%, and the inability to verify any of the 
company's costs. EPA's submission of its own analyses to the State does 
not cure this defect since EPA's analysis is limited by the same lack 
of access to data from which the State's analysis suffers.
    Response: As explained in previous responses, EPA reviewed the 
State's entire submission, including any attached appendices and 
supporting documentation, and any publicly available information as a 
whole in determining whether the State's submission is approvable. 
Though we identified errors in Entergy's cost and visibility analyses, 
EPA conducted its own cost and visibility analyses in accordance with 
the applicable regulations and guidelines. EPA's cost and visibility 
analyses are part of the SIP submission (Appendix F) and were included 
in the information considered by the State in making its BART 
determination. We do not believe that our modeling or cost analysis 
were limited by the lack of access to data. Our cost estimates rely on 
algorithms designed to use readily available data \80\ that provide 
reasonable estimates of costs. Furthermore, we had all the data 
necessary to make estimates of visibility impairment. We only noted 
that there was limited access to documentation to explain the 
difference between our cost estimates and those provided by Entergy. As 
stated previously, LDEQ considered all the information contained in the 
SIP submittal. LDEQ reviewed this information as is evidenced by its 
SIP submission. LDEQ states, ``LDEQ has weighed the five factors and 
after a review of both Entergy's and EPA's information. . .'' \81\ This 
indicates that the State reviewed the information it received from both 
Entergy and the EPA, and thus had adequate information upon which to 
base its determination. After reviewing the relevant information 
contained in LDEQ's SIP, we determined that the State's SIP meets the 
requirements of the Act and the applicable regulations and guidance.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \80\ See Cost Analysis in LA RH SIP, October 2017, Appendix F.
    \81\ LA RH SIP Revision Addendum, June 19, 2017, p. 6.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Comment: Though EPA stated that the State ``weighed the statutory 
factors,'' \82\ there is no evidence that the State weighed two of the 
statutory factors, the remaining useful life of the source and the 
existing controls in use at the source. BART must be based on a 
consideration of the five factors. The State's BART analysis appears in 
a single paragraph, which does not mention two of the five factors: The 
``remaining useful life of the source'' and ``existing pollution 
controls in use at the source,'' 42 U.S.C. 7491(g)(2). The State's 
failure to consider existing pollution controls for SO2 
emissions is significant, given that the State treats its BART 
determination of low-sulfur coal as requiring Nelson to do something 
new, despite evidence that Nelson is already using low-sulfur coal. As 
EPA acknowledged, the RS Nelson Plant has already been burning low 
sulfur Powder River Basin coal for many years.\83\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \82\ 82 FR at 32300 (July 13, 2017).
    \83\ See EPA Technical Assistance Document at 6-7. See also EPA 
TSD at 9.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Similarly, it is important that states consider the ``remaining 
useful life'' factor. Cost calculations typically assume that costs 
will be recovered over the remaining useful life of a source. As a 
result, the remaining useful life is a key variable in cost analyses.
    Whether Entergy or EPA considered these two factors is irrelevant 
legally, because the statute requires the State, not the plant owner, 
to determine BART. There is no evidence in the SIP that the State 
actually considered and relied on any analysis which Entergy or EPA may 
have conducted of the remaining useful life and existing pollution 
controls in use at the source. In particular, there is no passage in 
the State's SIP narrative in which the State discusses how it 
considered and weighed the remaining useful life and existing pollution 
controls in use at Nelson.\84\ EPA cannot approve a BART determination 
which fails to consider two factors, the remaining useful life and the 
existing controls in use at the source, which the statute requires 
states to consider.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \84\ By contrast, the State expressly considers and weighs 
annual costs, visibility improvement, and environmental impacts of 
controls. See LA RH SIP, October 2017, p. 6.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Response: As explained in previous responses above, EPA reviews the 
final SIP document and any accompanying supplementary information or 
appendices that have been submitted by the State. In the October 2017 
LA RH SIP at Appendix D, Entergy's BART analysis for Nelson unit 6 
includes a description of existing control equipment at the unit \85\ 
and a statement that remaining useful life does not impact the cost 
analysis.\86\ In our analysis, we conducted a five-factor analysis and 
addressed both remaining useful life and the existing controls in use 
at the source. As discussed in our draft Technical Support Document 
provided to LDEQ and included in its October 2017 LA RH SIP, Appendix 
F, in evaluating the cost of switching to lower sulfur coal to meet an 
emission limit of 0.6 lb/MMBtu, we began by noting that Entergy has 
purchased both higher and lower sulfur coals. To account for the 
existing use of low sulfur coal, we applied the premium \87\ associated 
with purchasing only low sulfur coal to the fraction of higher sulfur 
coal purchased. In making their decision, the State evaluated all 
available information regarding the remaining useful life of the source 
and the existing controls in use at the source. LDEQ submitted the 
analyses conducted by EPA and Entergy as appendices to the LA RH SIP. 
As such, we took all the information contained in the LA RH SIP into 
account in making our determination to approve the State's SIP 
submittal.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \85\ See Page 1-1 of Entergy Nelson five-factor BART analysis, 
November 9, 2015, revised April 15, 2016. Available in Appendix D of 
the LA RH SIP.
    \86\ See Page 4-4 of Entergy Nelson five-factor BART analysis, 
November 9, 2015, revised April 15, 2016. Available in Appendix D of 
the LA RH SIP.
    \87\ We estimate the low sulfur coal premium based on 2016 coal 
purchases for coals above and below 0.6 lb/MMBtu. See Nelson TAD in 
Appendix F of the LA RH SIP, October 2016, Section 3.2.9.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Comment: The State unreasonably and unlawfully failed to consider 
the cost-effectiveness of controls in violation of the BART Guidelines. 
The State stated it selected low-sulfur coal over a scrubber even 
though additional visibility benefits may be achievable with the use of 
FGD because the lower sulfur coal option results in visibility benefits 
at a lower annual cost. The State's BART analysis violates the BART 
Guidelines by focusing the cost analysis solely on annual costs and by 
failing to consider cost-effectiveness at all. EPA's proposed approval 
fails to mention the applicable portions of EPA's own BART Guidelines 
and to discuss how the State's analysis is inconsistent with the 
Guidelines. In keeping with the statute, the regulations indicate that 
it is the total generating capacity of the plant--not any particular 
unit--that determines whether the BART Guidelines are mandatory.
    Nelson began operation in 1960.\88\ Nelson Units 1 and 2 each have 
a

[[Page 60533]]

nameplate capacity of approximately 114 MW, Unit 3 is 163 MW, Unit 4 is 
592 MW, and Unit 6 is 615 MW. Although Units 1 and 2 have been spun off 
into a separate permit, the current Title V permit provides that the 
``facility capacity'' is 1,204 MW.\89\ Given that Nelson's total 
capacity exceeds 750 MW, BART for Nelson must be determined in 
accordance with the BART Guidelines.\90\
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    \88\ Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, Statement of 
Basis, Proposed Part 70 Operating Permit 0520-00014-V2, Roy S. 
Nelson Electric Generating Plant, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, 
L.L.C. Westlake, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, Agency Interest (AI) 
No. 19588, Activity No. PER20100003 (Oct. 17, 2012), Attached as 
Exhibit 7 to Sierra Club's August 14, 2017 comment letter.
    \89\ Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, Part 70 
Operating Permit 0520-00014-V2, Roy S. Nelson Electric Generating 
Plant, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, L.L.C. Westlake, Calcasieu 
Parish, Louisiana, Agency Interest (AI) No. 19588, Activity No. 
PER20100003 (issued Oct. 4, 2013). By letters dated May 1, 2015, and 
August 24, 2015, Entergy confirmed that Units 4 and 6 are BART 
eligible. LA059-006-_4_4_Entergy Nelson_6_BART_Survey.pdf; LA059-
006-_4_7Ltr_2015-08-24_from_FHyman_to_VAucoin_re_N4-WG3-
LG3_Aux_Boilers_BART_eligibility.pdf. Attached as Exhibit 8 to 
Sierra Club's August 14, 2017 comment letter.
    \90\ To determine whether the total capacity exceeds 750 MW, 
EPA's policy is to add the generating capacity of all the units at a 
power plant, so long as one of the units is subject to BART. See, 
e.g., 77 FR 12770, 12778 (Mar. 2, 2012) (``[I]t is reasonable to 
interpret the RHR to mean that if the plant capacity is greater than 
750 MW at the time the BART determination is made by the State . . . 
then the power plant is a facility `having a total generating 
capacity in excess of 750 [MW]' and any unit at the plant greater 
than 200 MW is subject to presumptive BART.''); 76 FR 58570, 58596 
(Sept. 21, 2011) (concluding that the BART Guidelines are mandatory 
for Milton R. Young Station because Unit 1 is 277 MW and Unit 2 is 
517 MW, which sums to 794 MW).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The BART Guidelines recommend the use of cost-effectiveness ``to 
assess the potential for achieving an objective in the most economical 
way.'' The BART Guidelines specifically caution states not to consider 
annual costs without also considering cost-effectiveness. The 
SO2 BART determination violates the requirements in the BART 
Guidelines to consider cost-effectiveness of controls. Given that 
Nelson Unit 6 is located at a plant with a total generating capacity 
greater than 750 MW, the State is required to determine BART pursuant 
to the BART Guidelines--which the State failed to do, by failing to 
consider the cost-effectiveness of controls. The State should have 
followed the BART Guidelines and considered the cost-effectiveness of 
controls, which weigh in favor of selecting a scrubber as BART.
    It is both irrational and contrary to the purpose of the haze 
provisions for the State to reject a very cost-effective control, a 
scrubber, on the ground that the annual cost is higher than the least-
effective control, low-sulfur coal. If a state were permitted to reject 
more effective controls solely on the basis that annual costs are 
higher, then more effective controls would rarely, if ever, be 
required. If the State's rationale were approved by EPA, it would be 
difficult, if not impossible, to require the very pollution controls 
necessary to achieve the statutory mandate to eliminate haze pollution. 
The State's rationale must be rejected because it is incompatible with 
achieving the goal of the Clean Air Act to ultimately eliminate all 
human-caused haze pollution.
    Response: We agree with the comment that the total capacity of the 
Nelson facility exceeds 750 MW and that the State was therefore 
required to determine BART pursuant to the BART Guidelines for this 
source. However, we disagree that LDEQ failed to consider cost-
effectiveness. LDEQ included estimates of annual costs, cost-
effectiveness, and incremental costs for the control options for Nelson 
Unit 6 in Appendices D and F of its SIP revision. LDEQ considered all 
information in the record, including all cost information provided by 
the EPA and Entergy. LDEQ weighed the five factors and concluded that 
``the use of lower sulfur coal presents the appropriate SO2 
control based on consideration of economics, energy impacts, non-air 
quality environmental impacts, and impacts to visibility.'' EPA has 
reviewed all the information in the SIP submittal and finds that the 
state's determination is approvable.
    Comment: EPA's proposed approval of Entergy's 2012-2016 emissions 
baseline for the purposes of evaluating costs is arbitrary and contrary 
to law. As an initial matter, the cost analyses for other Louisiana 
BART sources, including Little Gypsy Unit 2, the Waterford units, and 
the Ninemile units, relied on a 2000-2004 emission baseline for the 
purposes of determining the cost effectiveness of controls. Neither 
Entergy nor EPA provide any reasoned explanation for treating Nelson 
differently. Instead, Entergy relied on an unenforceable, more recent 
operational profile in its BART analysis. Indeed, Entergy's BART 
analysis (and its conclusion that no additional controls are cost-
effective) is based on baseline emissions from 2012-2014, during which 
Nelson 6 happened to be operating far less frequently than in earlier 
years.\91\ This is important because using a 2000-2004 baseline, a 
scrubber is even more cost-effective. The commenter estimates that a 
dry scrubber would cost $1,712 to $1,750 per ton and a wet scrubber 
would cost $1,728 to $1,748 using a 2000-2004 baseline. EPA's proposed 
approval of Entergy's emission baseline skews the cost analysis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \91\ See Dec. 30 Comments, Ex. C, Entergy Nelson Emissions and 
Hours of Operation from 2000 through 2016, available at https://ampd.epa.gov/ampd/, attached as Exhibit 9.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    EPA has repeatedly concluded that states should determine BART 
using emissions data from 2000-2004. If projected operations will 
differ from past practice, and the state's BART determination is based 
on that emission baseline, the state ``must make these parameters or 
assumptions into enforceable limitations'' in the SIP itself. See 40 
CFR part 51, App'x. Y Sec.  (IV)(D)(4)(d) LDEQ's proposed SIP contains 
no such enforceable limitation requiring Entergy to comply with 2012-
2014 emissions, and is therefore unapprovable.
    Response: We disagree with the comment regarding the use of 
baseline emissions in estimating annual costs and cost-effectiveness. 
Annual emissions used in evaluating cost effectiveness of controls are 
based on annual emissions representative of future anticipated annual 
emissions.\92\ The BART guidelines state that in the absence of 
enforceable limitations, baseline emissions should be based upon 
continuation of past practice.\93\ In many cases, in order to represent 
future anticipated annual emissions from the source EPA has used actual 
annual emissions from the most recent five-year period as being 
consistent with past practice for the purposes of the cost evaluation. 
EPA typically uses the most recent five years of annual emissions, 
eliminating the maximum and minimum annual emissions when evaluating 
cost impacts. For Nelson Unit 6, the cost analysis \94\ developed by 
EPA and included in the October 2017 SIP submittal in appendix F, 
utilized a baseline based on average emissions from 2011 through 2015, 
excluding the maximum and minimum values. This analysis was later 
updated to using 2012-2016, excluding the maximum and minimum values. 
As stated in the Nelson Technical Assistance Document (Nelson TAD),\95\ 
EPA concluded that using the average annual emissions over the most 
recent five years, excluding the maximum and minimum years, was a 
reasonable compromise between simply selecting the maximum value from

[[Page 60534]]

2011-2015, or using the average of the values from 2011-2015. We 
discuss our review of the Entergy cost analysis for Nelson Unit 6 
elsewhere in the response to comment section. The commenter is 
incorrect concerning the baseline used for cost analysis for Little 
Gypsy Unit 2, the Waterford units, and the Ninemile units. For the 
Waterford units, we utilized 2015 fuel oil prices and determined cost-
effectiveness based on costs and tons reduced per 1,000 barrels of fuel 
burned. We also identified the highest annual emissions during the 
2011-2015 period as part of our review of the BART determination for 
this source. For Little Gypsy and Ninemile, consideration of cost-
effectiveness of controls was not necessary as the sources adopted the 
most stringent control level available. In addition, we note there are 
additional differences besides the choice of baseline emissions that we 
disagree with that resulted in lower estimated costs by the commenter 
than those estimated by EPA.\96\ We discuss the inputs we selected in 
our cost evaluation in the Nelson TSD.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \92\ 40 CFR part 51 app. Y Sec.  IV.D.4.d. ``The baseline 
emissions rate should represent a realistic depiction of anticipated 
annual emissions for the source.''
    \93\ 40 CFR part 51 app. Y Sec.  IV.D.4.d.
    \94\ ``Nelson Technical Assistance Document'' (Nelson TAD) in 
the Louisiana State Implementation Plan for the Entergy Nelson 
Facility, June 2017, Available in Appendix F of the October 2017 LA 
RH SIP submittal.
    \95\ See Technical Assistance Document for the Louisiana State 
Implementation Plan for the Entergy Nelson Facility, June 2017, 
Available in Appendix F of the October 2017 LA RH SIP submittal.
    \96\ For example, gross heat rate and SO2 rate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Comment: The SIP is not approvable because it unlawfully fails to 
require at least presumptive BART for SO2 emissions as 
required by the BART Guidelines. For SO2, presumptive BART 
is an emission limit of 0.15 lb/MMBtu. 40 CFR part 51, App. Y Sec.  
(IV)(E)(4) (``You must require 750 MW power plants to meet specific 
control levels for SO2 of either 95 percent control or 0.15 
lbs/MMBtu, for each EGU greater than 200 MW that is currently 
uncontrolled unless you determine that an alternative control level is 
justified based on a careful consideration of the statutory 
factors.''). The State's BART determination for SO2 is an 
emission limit of 0.6 lb/MMBtu, which achieves nowhere near a 95% 
reduction in SO2 emissions and is four times higher than the 
presumptive BART rate of 0.15 lb/MMBtu. The State's failure to require 
at least the minimum emissions reductions mandated by the BART 
Guidelines violates the Clean Air Act requirement that BART be 
determined ``pursuant to'' the BART Guidelines for plants larger than 
750 MW, 42 U.S.C. 7491(b)(2). EPA cannot approve a SIP which violates 
the Clean Air Act, and thus EPA must disapprove the SO2 BART 
determination Nelson Unit 6.
    Response: We disagree with the comment that the State must require 
at least a level of control consistent with the presumptive limit for 
SO2 of either 95 percent control or 0.15 lbs/MMBtu. As 
identified by the commenter, the BART Guidelines state that the 
presumptive limit applies ``unless you determine that an alternative 
control level is justified based on a careful consideration of the 
statutory factors.'' LDEQ considered all information in the record, 
including all estimates of visibility benefits, annual costs, cost-
effectiveness, and incremental cost provided by EPA and Entergy. The 
state weighed the factors and concluded that ``the use of lower sulfur 
coal presents the appropriate SO2 control based on 
consideration of economics, energy impacts, non-air quality 
environmental impacts, and impacts to visibility.'' EPA has reviewed 
all the information in the SIP submittal and finds that the state's 
determination meets the applicable requirements and therefore is 
approvable.
    Comment: EPA's CALPUFF modeling shows that a scrubber would improve 
visibility by more than 1 deciview at Caney Creek, and slightly less 
than 1 deciview at Breton. Draft SIP, Appendix F at 41, Table 4-8. 
EPA's CAMx modeling indicated that a scrubber would improve visibility 
by 0.831 deciviews at Caney Creek and 0.663 deciviews at Upper Buffalo. 
82 FR at 32299-300. These are significant amounts of visibility 
improvement, as indicated by the BART Guidelines instructions on 
determining which sources are subject to BART; the Guidelines state 
that a source which causes 1 deciview of impairment ``causes'' 
visibility impairment, and a source which leads to 0.5 deciviews of 
impairment ``contributes'' to impairment, 40 CFR part 51, App. Y Sec.  
(III)(A)(1). This visibility improvement is well within the range of 
values for previous final BART determinations. In addition to being 
comparable to other BART determinations, the visibility improvement 
from a new scrubber is necessary as BART to move both affected Class I 
areas closer to natural visibility conditions.\97\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \97\ The Cost Effectiveness spreadsheet and related documents 
used to develop the following charts are attached as Exhibit 5. ``At 
a single Class I area'' refers to either the benefit at the most 
impacted Class I area or the highest benefit at any single Class I 
area (these are often but not always the same Class I area).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    EPA's cost and visibility analyses only undermine the State's 
proposed BART determination, by demonstrating that the cost and 
visibility improvement from a scrubber are within the range of values 
which states and EPA routinely find to be reasonable, and on a case-
specific basis, warranted as BART based on a five-factor analysis. 
EPA's own analysis concluded that the average cost-effectiveness is 
$2,706 per ton for SDA and $2,743 per ton for wet FGD. 82 FR at 32299. 
As the chart below indicates, these values are well within the range of 
average cost-effectiveness values for final BART determinations.\98\ 
EPA has not explained how it can approve the rejection of a scrubber 
when the cost-effectiveness and visibility improvement values are 
within the range that EPA has found reasonable in so many other haze 
rulemakings.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \98\ See also Dec. 30 Comments, Ex. D Letter from Guy Donaldson 
to Entergy Services (May 20, 2015) (describing deficiencies in 
modeling); Letter from Kelly McQueen to Guy Donaldson (Apr. 15, 
2016), EPA Doc. No. LA059-006-
_4_11_Reply_to_EPA_on_LA_BART_Issues_Final_4-15-16.pdf (purporting 
to address EPA concerns about modeling and cost methodology, but 
declining to correct errors and deficiencies).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The commenter estimates the costs of a dry scrubber would cost 
$2,272 to $2,335 per ton and a wet scrubber would cost $2,328 to $2,361 
per ton.\99\ And while the commenter states that it does not believe 
that incremental cost-effectiveness \100\ should be a determining 
factor, it notes that EPA found that the incremental cost-effectiveness 
of a dry scrubber relative to DSI is $1,671. Both the average and 
incremental cost-effectiveness of a scrubber are well-within the range 
of cost-effectiveness values that states and EPA have found reasonable. 
See ``Cost Effectiveness and Visibility in BART Determinations'' 
spreadsheet (showing that many final BART determinations have an 
average cost-effectiveness exceeding $2,700 per ton of SO2 
removed), Attached as Exhibit 5 (``Cost Effectiveness Spreadsheet''). 
Given the degree to which Nelson contributes to impairment at Class I 
areas, and the statutory mandate to restore natural conditions to these 
skies, the cost of a scrubber is justified as BART for this facility.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \99\ See Stamper Report (attached as Technical Support Document 
to Conservation Organizations June 18, 2017 comment letter).
    \100\ EPA defines ``incremental cost-effectiveness'' as the 
difference between the cost-effectiveness of one pollution control 
and the cost-effectiveness of the next-most-effective pollution 
control. See 40 CFR part 51, App. Y Sec.  (IV)(D)(4)(E).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Response: The charts provided by the commenter give the ranges of 
cost-effectiveness and visibility benefits of controls identified by 
EPA and states in previous BART determinations for both NOX 
and SO2. However, these charts do not provide information on 
the visibility benefits, costs of controls, or incremental costs and 
benefits for technologies that were rejected in each of these 
determinations or in other situations where no additional controls were 
required to meet BART. Each BART determination is dependent on the 
specific situation and requires

[[Page 60535]]

consideration of a number of factors including, the characteristics of 
the fuel burned at the source, the existing controls, the control 
efficiency of available control technologies, the remaining useful 
life, the costs and incremental costs of controls and the anticipated 
visibility benefit of each potential control. The Regional Haze Rule 
and BART Guidelines do not require the state to select as BART a more 
effective technology merely because it has visibility benefits or cost-
effectiveness that fall within the range of previous cases, nor do they 
prohibit the state from choosing as BART a less effective technology 
measure that falls outside the range of previous cases. The state must 
consider all 5 statutory factors.
    The Clean Air Act gave EPA the power to identify pollutants and set 
air quality standards. Congress gave states ``the primary 
responsibility for implementing those standards.'' Luminant Generation 
Co. v. EPA, 675 F.3d 917, 921 (5th Cir. 2012). (internal quotation 
marks omitted); see 42 U.S.C. 7407(a) (``Each State shall have the 
primary responsibility for assuring air quality within [its] entire 
geographic area.''); id. sec. 7401(a)(3) (``[A]ir pollution prevention 
. . . is the primary responsibility of States and local governments.'') 
The states have ``wide discretion'' in formulating SIPs. Union Elec. 
Co. v. EPA, 427 U.S. 246, 250 (1976). The Clean Air Act provides that 
EPA ``shall approve'' a SIP ``if it meets the applicable requirements 
of this chapter.'' 42 U.S.C. 7410(k)(3). EPA's regulations under the 
CAA ``do not require uniformity between . . . actions in all 
circumstances and instead `allow for some variation' in actions taken 
in different regions.'' 81 FR at 326 (quoting Amendments to Regional 
Consistency Requirements, 80 FR 50250, at 50258 (Aug. 19, 2015)). Some 
variation is to be expected because SIP actions are highly fact-
dependent. Though we identified errors in Entergy's cost and visibility 
analyses, EPA conducted its own cost and visibility analyses in 
accordance with the applicable regulations and guidelines. EPA's cost 
and visibility analyses are part of the SIP submission (Appendix F) and 
were included in the information considered by the State in making 
their BART determination. LDEQ considered all information in the 
record, including all estimates of visibility benefits, annual costs, 
cost-effectiveness, and incremental cost provided by EPA and Entergy. 
The state weighed the factors considering all available information 
included in the SIP, and concluded that ``the use of lower sulfur coal 
presents the appropriate SO2 control based on consideration 
of economics, energy impacts, non-air quality environmental impacts, 
and impacts to visibility.'' EPA has reviewed all the information in 
the SIP submittal and finds that the state's determination is 
approvable.
    Comment: EPA arbitrarily ignores the impact that errors in the cost 
and modeling analyses relied on by the State had on the State's BART 
determination. The State rejected a scrubber in favor of low-sulfur 
cost based on comparing the relative costs and visibility benefits of 
the two controls. Yet EPA found that the factors on which the State 
based its decision, cost and visibility benefits, are thoroughly 
inaccurate. EPA failed to explain how the Entergy analyses the State 
relied on can be incorrect, but the State's ultimate BART determination 
can be approvable.
    Response: As explained in previous responses, EPA reviewed the 
State's entire submission, including any attached appendices and 
supporting documentation in determining whether the State's submission 
is approvable. EPA conducted its own cost and visibility analyses and 
submitted these analyses to the State for review in its determination. 
LDEQ reviewed this information as is evidenced by its SIP submission. 
LDEQ states, ``LDEQ has weighed the five factors and after a review of 
both Entergy's and EPA's information . . .'' This indicates that the 
State reviewed the information it received from both Entergy and the 
EPA in making its determination. After reviewing the relevant 
information contained in the State's SIP, we determined that the 
State's SIP is approvable.
    Comment: The record indicates that EPA Region 6 has, on multiple 
occasions, expressed concerns with Entergy's modeling and cost 
analyses, as well as the Company's proposed baseline emission 
rates.\101\ Those documents--including Entergy's October 14, 2016 
analysis, EPA's underlying March 16, 2016 Preliminary Review Response 
letter explaining its concerns with Entergy's modeling methodology, and 
any EPA response to Entergy's letter--do not appear to be included in 
the administrative record. Moreover, Louisiana's final BART analysis 
for Nelson does not address, let alone correct, many of the flaws EPA 
identified. As a result, the public has been deprived of information 
relevant to the legal and factual basis for Entergy's BART analysis, 
and is therefore unable to comment meaningfully on EPA's proposed 
approval of the BART analysis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \101\ See, e.g., Trinity Consultants, Inc., CAMx Modeling Report 
Prepared for Entergy Services (Oct. 14, 2016), available at http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov, LDEQ AI No. 174156, Doc. Nos. 
10369532_6of7.pdf and 10369532_7of7.pdf (describing EPA critique of 
CAMx modeling platform, but excluding underlying letter), attached 
as Exhibit 4; see also Dec. 30 Comments, Ex. D, Letter from EPA Air 
Planning Chief Guy Donaldson to Firdina Hyman, Response to 
Deviations Request for Best Available Retrofit Applicability 
Screening Modeling (May 20, 2015); Letter from Kelly
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Response: The letters referenced by the commenter were made 
available by LDEQ on its website during its comment period. The final 
February 2017 SIP EPA received from LDEQ did not contain these letters 
as attachments, so they were inadvertently left out of the EPA docket, 
but they have since been placed in the docket. We note that the 
commenter cited to these letters in its comment, indicating that the 
commenter had the opportunity to review them. We also note that 
Entergy's response letter was included in the docket. This response 
letter included the questions raised by EPA in its initial letter 
verbatim.\102\ EPA did not rely on the Entergy's CAMx analysis in the 
October 2017 LA RH SIP, Appendix D, which is referred to by the 
commenter for our proposed approval of the State's SIP. While we found 
Entergy's modeling and methodology to be flawed, we also conducted our 
own CAMx modeling which LDEQ included in its SIP submission as an 
appendix.\103\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \102\ Letter dated April 15, 2016, from Kelly McQueen to Guy 
Donaldson Re Supplement to BART-Related Submittals Provided in 
Response to CAA Section 114(a) Information Requests for Entergy 
Louisiana, Entergy New Orleans, and Entergy Gulf States.
    \103\ October 2017 LA RH SIP, Appendix F.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

E. Legal

    Comment: LDEQ stated it disagreed with EPA's use of the phrase 
``adopted and incorporated'' when referring to the analysis provided to 
LDEQ by EPA. It stated that it places all documents and information 
submitted to it in connection with the development of the SIP in an 
administrative record. Such placement in the record does not indicate 
that LDEQ agrees with or has adopted positions, conclusions, or 
decisions, nor has incorporated them into the SIP revisions submitted 
to EPA. The final SIP document and any enforceable conditions included 
therein encompass the final decision by LDEQ.
    Response: EPA recognizes that LDEQ independently reached the final 
determination presented in its Nelson RH SIP. We did not intend to 
imply that we substituted our own judgment for LDEQ's. When reviewing a 
SIP to determine whether it meets the

[[Page 60536]]

applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, EPA considers the 
final SIP document as well as any accompanying supporting documents or 
appendices that have been submitted by the State. Reviewing the 
supporting documents and appendices assists EPA in determining how the 
State reached its final conclusion, and thus, helps determine whether 
the final conclusion meets the applicable statutory and regulatory 
requirements. We also note that in the SIP revision submitted to EPA in 
October 2017, LDEQ stated that the ``. . . SIP is being revised to 
include the EPA information.'' \104\ This indicates that LDEQ 
considered the information provided by EPA when making its 
determination. It is thus appropriate for EPA to similarly rely on this 
information in our final rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \104\ Louisiana Regional Haze State Implementation Plan: EGU 
BART Analysis, June 19, 2017, p. 3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Comment: LDEQ disagreed with the solicitation of comments on 
Entergy's cost per ton figure by EPA. LDEQ stated that it conducted its 
own public comment period and any comments submitted on this point are 
procedurally improper.
    Response: While it is correct that LDEQ conducted its own public 
comment period, this does not relieve EPA of its duty under the 
Administrative Procedure Act to provide the public with notice of its 
proposed rulemaking and an opportunity to comment.
    Comment: After finding that the Entergy analysis on which the State 
relies is unverifiable and unsupported by the facts before the agency--
which demonstrate that a new scrubber would be both cost effective and 
significantly improve visibility--EPA inexplicably proposed to approve 
the State's BART determination. EPA's proposal is the quintessential 
example of an agency decision that is inconsistent with the evidence 
before the agency, and it would be arbitrary and capricious for EPA to 
finalize its proposal. See North Dakota v. EPA, 730 F.3d 750, 761 (8th 
Cir. 2013) (citing Ala. Dep't of Envtl. Conservation v EPA, 540 U.S. 
461, 485, 490 (2004)) (EPA must ensure that the state's regional haze 
plan is ``reasonably moored to the Act's provisions'' and based on 
``reasoned analysis'' of the facts).
    Response: In our proposal we noted that we were unable to verify 
the cost analysis submitted by Entergy because it was based on a 
propriety database.\105\ However, as stated in our proposed rule, we 
developed our own BART analysis, including a control cost analysis, 
which was reviewed by LDEQ and submitted as an appendix to LDEQ's SIP 
submission \106\ and considered in LDEQ's weighing of the five factors 
in reaching its determination regarding controls at Nelson. Thus, LDEQ 
included in its SIP and considered information adequate to provide a 
basis for its decision. As stated in a previous response, EPA reviews 
all information submitted by the State along with any other relevant 
publicly available information in determining whether its SIP 
submission is approvable, including any appendices or other supporting 
documentation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \105\ 82 FR 32294, 32298 (July 13, 2017).
    \106\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Comment: The State also failed to consult with the Federal Land 
Managers regarding the proposed BART determination for Nelson Unit 6. 
This violates the statutory and regulatory requirements that each state 
consult with the Federal Land Managers prior to holding a public 
hearing on the SIP and that the State include in the public notice a 
summary of the Federal Land Managers' recommendations. EPA must 
disapprove the SIP submission based on the State's violation of the 
BART Guidelines and the consultation requirements. ``Before holding the 
public hearing on the proposed revision of an applicable implementation 
plan to meet the requirements of this section, the State . . . shall 
consult in person with the appropriate Federal land manager or managers 
and shall include a summary of the conclusions and recommendations of 
the Federal land managers in the notice to the public.'' 42 U.S.C. 
7491(d). EPA may not approve a plan which violates applicable Clean Air 
Act requirements, and therefore EPA must disapprove the plan based 
solely on the State's violation of the consultation requirements.
    Response: As evidenced by the letter sent to LDEQ by the Fish and 
Wildlife Service,\107\ LDEQ consulted with the appropriate Federal Land 
Mangers regarding its RH SIP submission. In its general comments, the 
Fish and Wildlife Service stated that more information was needed to 
determine the validity of LDEQ's conclusions and recommended that LDEQ 
include the information it relied upon in reaching its decision. In 
reference to Nelson, the Fish and Wildlife Service stated that it was 
aware that more information was available and that it would be 
interested in reviewing this information. Subsequently, LDEQ submitted 
an addendum to its SIP to include the analyses conducted by EPA. LDEQ 
provided the updated information, as requested, to the Fish and 
Wildlife Service via email on July 12, 2017.\108\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \107\ See, Letter from the U.S. Department of Interior Fish and 
Wildlife Service to Vivian Aucoin, December 14, 2016.
    \108\ Appendix A of the October 2017 Louisiana Regional Haze 
SIP.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Comment: The only outcome consistent with EPA's findings in the 
record is for EPA to disapprove the State's analysis and issue a 
federal implementation plan for SO2 BART setting emission 
limits consistent with the operation of a new scrubber.
    Response: As explained in previous responses, EPA reviewed the 
State's entire submission, including any attached appendices and 
supporting documentation, as a whole in determining whether the State's 
submission is approvable. After reviewing the relevant information, we 
determined that the State's SIP is approvable.\109\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \109\ See our proposed rule for our full analysis. 82 FR 32294 
(July 13, 2017).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Comment: The State expressly notes that in reaching its decision, 
it relied on Entergy's analysis.\110\ EPA has an independent obligation 
to ensure that the State's analysis complies with the Clean Air Act. 
See Ala. Dep't of Envtl. Conservation v. EPA, 540 U.S. at 485 
(upholding EPA's interpretation of the Clean Air Act as authorizing EPA 
to ``review permits to ensure that a State's BACT determination is 
reasonably moored to the Act's provisions''); North Dakota v. EPA, 730 
F.3d at 761 (extending the holding of Alaska Dep't of Envtl. 
Conservation to EPA's role under the haze provisions of the Clean Air 
Act); Oklahoma v. EPA, 723 F.3d 1201, 1208 (10th Cir. 2013) (``Given 
that the statute mandates that the EPA must ensure SIPs comply with the 
statute, we fail to see how the EPA would be without the authority to 
review BART determinations for compliance with the guidelines.'')
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \110\ LA RH SIP October 2017 at p. 6.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Response: In its SIP, LDEQ states, ``LDEQ has weighed the five 
factors and after a review of both Entergy's and EPA's information. . 
.'' \111\ This indicates that the State reviewed all the information it 
received from both Entergy and the EPA. As stated in a previous 
response, LDEQ indicated in its SIP that it was revising its previous 
submission to include the additional information provided by EPA. This 
further indicates that the State considered this information in its 
determination. While we did note the errors that were present in 
Entergy's analysis, we also stated that we conducted our own analysis 
in

[[Page 60537]]

accordance with the applicable regulations and provisions of the Act, 
and provided this information to LDEQ.\112\ With the inclusion of the 
information from EPA, LDEQ had adequate information to make its 
decision.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \111\ LA RH SIP Revision Addendum, June 19, 2017, p. 6.
    \112\ 82 FR 32294, 32298-32299 (July 13, 2017).
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    Comment: EPA's proposal violates the procedural requirement of the 
Clean Air Act that EPA place in the public rulemaking docket the data 
on which the proposed rule relies. The Act requires that a proposed 
rule include a summary of the ``factual data on which the proposed rule 
is based,'' 42 U.S.C. 7607(d)(3)(A), and such ``data . . . on which the 
proposed rule relies shall be included in the docket on the date of 
publication of the proposed rule.'' Id. sec. 7607(d)(3). EPA proposed 
to approve the State's BART determination, which relies on Entergy's 
BART analyses. Therefore, EPA's proposed rule also relies on Entergy's 
BART analyses, yet factual data from Entergy's BART analyses are not 
included in the docket, namely, the proprietary database for 
calculating scrubber costs, 82 FR at 32298, and ``model inputs, such as 
emissions or stack parameters'' and ``worksheets utilized for post-
processing, or any of the actual CAMx modeling files.'' Appendix F, 
CAMx Modeling TSD at 30. By failing to include this data in the 
rulemaking docket, EPA has violated 42 U.S.C. 7607(d)(3). See Kennecott 
Corp. v. EPA, 684 F.2d 1007, 1018 (D.C. Cir. 1982) (``If that argument 
be factually based, the financial analyses clearly form a basis for the 
regulations and should properly have been included in the docket. In 
all events, absence of those documents, or of comparable materials 
showing the nature and scope of its prior practice, makes impossible 
any meaningful comment on the merits of EPA's assertions.''). Entergy's 
consultant, Trinity, failed to provide fundamental information 
concerning its visibility modeling. ``Trinity did not provide model 
inputs, such as emissions or stack parameters, or provide worksheets 
utilized for post-processing, or any of the actual CAMx modeling files 
so our review is limited only to general description [sic] of the 
modeling protocol provided in the various CAMx modeling reports 
provided by Entergy.'' Draft SIP, Appendix F, CAMx Modeling TSD at 30.
    Response: As stated in previous responses, EPA conducted its own 
cost and modeling analyses and submitted them to LDEQ for its 
consideration. LDEQ considered the information provided by EPA\113\ as 
well as that provided by Entergy \114\ in making its final BART 
determination based upon weight of evidence. LDEQ stated in its 
February 2017 SIP submission that it did not have the expertise with 
which to review the summary of the CAMx modeling analysis provided by 
Entergy.\115\ LDEQ further stated in its June 2017 parallel processing 
proposed submission that it did not use the results of the CAMx 
modeling provided by Entergy to determine whether the units in question 
have satisfied the BART requirements.\116\ EPA reviewed the modeling 
inputs, approach and the model results that were available in Entergy's 
submitted analysis that were part of the LDEQ's June 2017 proposal. 
With this information, EPA was able to determine that the modeling was 
not consistent with the BART guidelines and should not be relied 
upon.\117\ Thus, the underlying information used to generate the CAMx 
modeling summary in Entergy's analysis is not required to be placed in 
the docket.\118\ After reviewing the relevant information, we 
determined that the State's SIP is approvable. All of the information 
EPA relied on its determination was made available in the docket during 
the comment period.
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    \113\ LA RH SIP, October 2017, Appendix F.
    \114\ Id. at Appendix D.
    \115\ LA RH SIP EGU BART Analysis, February 2017, p. 16.
    \116\ LA RH SIP Revision Addendum, June 19, 2017, p. 5.
    \117\ See the CAMx Modeling TSD and the Modeling RTC for 
additional information.
    \118\ We note that the summary of the CAMx modeling conducted by 
Entergy was included as part of LA's SIP submission and was 
available in the docket for review. The summary contained sufficient 
information for EPA to review Entergy's analysis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

F. CSAPR-Better-Than-BART

    Comment: Louisiana's proposal unlawfully exempts sources from 
installing BART controls without going through the exemption process 
Congress prescribed. The visibility protection provisions of the Clean 
Air Act include a ``requirement'' that certain sources ``install, and 
operate'' BART controls. 42 U.S.C. 7491(b)(2)(A). Congress specified 
the standard by which sources could be exempted from the BART 
requirements, which is that the source is not ``reasonably anticipated 
to cause or contribute to a significant impairment of visibility'' in 
any Class I area. Id. sec. 7491(c)(1). Appropriate federal land 
managers must concur with any proposed exemption. Id. sec. 7491(c)(3). 
Neither EPA nor Louisiana has demonstrated that the Louisiana EGUs 
subject to BART meet the standards for an exemption. Nor has EPA or the 
state obtained the concurrence of federal land managers. Therefore, 
Louisiana must require source-specific BART for each power plant 
subject to BART.
    Response: To the extent the comment is directed to the prior rules 
that determined and re-determined that CSAPR is better than BART and 
may be relied upon as an alternative to BART, we disagree that relying 
on CSAPR is in conflict with the CAA provision regarding exemptions 
from BART. In addition, the commenter's objection does not properly 
pertain to this action, but instead to our past action that established 
40 CFR 51.308(e)(4). We believe this comment to fall outside of the 
scope of our action here. To the extent the comment objects to BART 
alternatives generally, we also disagree. In addition, that objection 
does not properly pertain to this action, but instead to our past 
regulatory action that provided for BART alternatives.
    Comment: Even if Louisiana could meet a BART statutory exemption 
test, the state cannot rely on CSAPR because of flaws in the rule that 
purport to show that CSAPR makes more reasonable progress than BART 
(the ``Better than BART'' rule). EPA's regulations purport to allow the 
use of an alternative program in lieu of source-specific BART only if 
the alternative makes ``greater reasonable progress'' than would BART. 
40 CFR 51.308(e)(2). To demonstrate greater reasonable progress, a 
state or EPA must show that the alternative program does not cause 
visibility to decline in any Class I area and results in an overall 
improvement in visibility relative to BART at all affected Class I 
areas. Id. Sec.  51.308(e)(3)(i)-(ii). Here, EPA claims that its 2012 
``Better than BART'' rule demonstrated that CSAPR achieves greater 
reasonable progress than BART. See 77 FR 33642.
    EPA compared CSAPR to BART in the Better than BART rule by using 
CSAPR allocations that are more stringent than now required as well as 
by using presumptive BART limits that are less stringent than required 
under the statute.\119\ These assumptions tilted the scales in favor of 
CSAPR. It would be arbitrary and capricious for EPA to rely on such an 
inaccurate, faulty comparison to conclude that CSAPR will achieve 
greater reasonable progress than will BART. Even under EPA's skewed 
comparison, CSAPR achieves barely more visibility improvement than BART 
at the Breton and Caney Creek National Wilderness Areas. If EPA had 
modeled accurate BART limits and up-to-date CSAPR allocations, then EPA

[[Page 60538]]

would likely find that CSAPR would lead to less visibility improvement 
than BART.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \119\ See 2011 Comments at 20-32.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As explained in detail in the attached briefing regarding the 
still-pending litigation challenging EPA's Better than BART rule, the 
Better than BART rule not only fails to meet the Clean Air Act's 
statutory requirements for a BART exemption but also fails to account 
for the geographic and temporal uncertainties in emissions reductions 
under CSAPR.\120\ We also submit and incorporate our February 28, 2011 
comments and our supplemental March 27, 2012 comments on the Better 
than BART Rule, which are relevant to EPA's proposal to rely on CSAPR 
as a BART alternative.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \120\ See Conservation Groups' Opening Brief, Util. Air 
Regulatory Grp. v. EPA, No. 12-1342, ECF Doc. 1666640 (D.C. Cir. 
filed Mar. 17, 2017), Exhibit 3 of Sierra Club's June 19, 2007 
comment letter.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Moreover, EPA's Better than BART determination fails to account for 
the inherent uncertainties in emissions reductions under CSAPR. BART is 
a technology that must be installed and operated year-round, and a 
corresponding emission limit that must also be met year-round. BART 
emissions limits must be met on a ``continuous basis. '' See 42 U.S.C. 
7602(k) (emphasis added). By contrast, CSAPR allows trading of 
emissions allowances between sources, including between sources in 
different states, rather than imposing a fixed emission limit for each 
source. EPA's assessment of CSAPR Better than BART does not and cannot 
assess the unknown impact of complex trading under CSAPR on the Class I 
areas affected by Louisiana sources.
    EPA cannot lawfully rely on the Better than BART rule because the 
rule is based on a version of CSAPR that no longer exists. Accordingly, 
any conclusion that EPA made in the 2012 Better than BART rule 
regarding whether CSAPR achieves greater reasonable progress than BART 
is no longer valid. Since 2012, EPA has significantly changed the 
allocations and the compliance deadlines for CSAPR. Of particular 
relevance here, after 2012, EPA increased the total ozone season CSAPR 
allocations for every covered EGU in Louisiana. 77 FR 34830, 34835 
(June 12, 2012). EPA also extended the compliance deadlines by three 
years, such that the phase 1 emissions budgets take effect in 2015-2016 
and the phase 2 emissions budgets take effect in 2017 and beyond. 79 FR 
71663 (Dec. 3, 2014).
    In addition to EPA's increased emissions budgets and extended 
compliance timeline, the D.C. Circuit's decision in EME Homer City 
Generation v. EPA, 795 F.3d 118, 130-32 (D.C. Cir. 2015), which 
invalidated the SO2 or NOX emission budgets for 
thirteen states, has fundamentally undermined the rationale underlying 
EPA's Better than BART rule. Specifically, the Court invalidated the 
2014 SO2 emission budgets for Alabama, Georgia, South 
Carolina, and Texas, and the 2014 NOX emission budgets for 
Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, 
Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. Id. 
at 124. Of particular relevance here, the D.C. Circuit invalidated the 
CSAPR budgets for Texas, Alabama, and Georgia, which most impact 
visibility at Louisiana's Class I area. As explained in our initial 
brief in the still-pending challenge to the CSAPR Better than BART 
rule, the effect of Homer City is to pull the rug out from under EPA's 
BART exemption rule. This remains true even though some states have, in 
the wake of Homer City, opted in to CSAPR in lieu of issuing source-
specific BART determinations. Texas, the state with the most 
SO2 emissions, has not opted in to CSAPR after the Homer 
City court remanded the CSAPR SO2 budgets for Texas, and 
therefore the CSAPR Better than BART Rule rests on facts which no 
longer exist. These assumptions underpinned EPA's finding that CSAPR 
was Better than BART. It would be arbitrary and capricious for EPA to 
now rely on the same assumptions, a blatantly inaccurate, outdated, 
faulty comparison to conclude that CSAPR will achieve greater 
reasonable progress than will BART. Even under EPA's skewed comparison, 
CSAPR barely achieved more visibility improvement than BART at the 
Breton and Caney Creek National Wilderness Areas. If EPA had modeled 
accurate BART limits and the modified CSAPR allocations as per the D.C. 
Circuit decision, then EPA would likely find that CSAPR would lead to 
less visibility improvement than BART.
    Response: As we had proposed, our finalized determination that 
CSAPR participation will resolve NOX BART requirements for 
Louisiana EGUs is based on a separately proposed and finalized action. 
This comment falls outside of the scope of our action here.
    Comment: Louisiana's reliance on CSAPR Better than BART is unlawful 
because the emissions reductions achieved by CSAPR in Louisiana are 
limited to five months of the year--the ozone season. Given that any 
controls that might be installed to meet CSAPR are not required to be 
operated year-round, CSAPR does nothing to protect the affected Class I 
areas during the remaining seven months of each year. In fact, as noted 
in EPA's Technical Support Document and in the National Park Service's 
comments on EPA's proposed disapproval of Louisiana's 2008 SIP, the 
adverse impacts of Louisiana NOX emissions on visibility are 
highest in the winter months--i.e., outside of the ozone season. Letter 
from Susan Johnson, Department of the Interior to Guy Donaldson, EPA 
Docket ID No. EPA-R06-OAR-2008-0510-0017, at 2 (Mar. 28, 2012), 
attached as Exhibit 4. Thus, NOX emissions reductions that 
are effective only during the ozone season will not address the 
visibility impact due to wintertime ammonium nitrate at Breton Island 
or other Class I areas in neighboring states.
    Even within the five-month ozone season, CSAPR allows for temporal 
variability such that a facility could emit at high levels within a 
shorter time period, creating higher than anticipated visibility 
impacts. Because of the high degree of variability and flexibility, 
power plants may exercise options that would lead to little or no 
emission reductions. For example, a facility in Louisiana might 
purchase emission credits from a source beyond the air shed of the 
Class I area the Louisiana source impairs. Because CSAPR requirements 
only pertain to the Louisiana source for a fraction of the year, that 
source may be even more incentivized to purchase emission credits from 
elsewhere than a source in a fully covered CSAPR state. Thus, without 
knowing which Louisiana EGUs will reduce pollutants by what amounts 
under CSAPR, or when they will do so, and because these emissions 
reductions are applicable for less than half the year, Louisiana simply 
cannot know the impact of CSAPR upon Breton and other affected Class I 
areas.
    For these reasons, reliance on CSAPR to satisfy the NOX 
BART requirements is unlawful. EPA should disapprove Louisiana's 
reliance on CSAPR to satisfy the NOX requirements, and issue 
a FIP with source-specific BART determinations for NOX.
    Response: We disagree with this comment, but also note that it 
should not be directed to this action but rather to the past rulemaking 
determination that provided BART coverage for pollutant trading under 
CSAPR as specified at 40 CFR 51.308(e)(4). In any event, the argument 
that BART must be based on ``continuous'' control does not transfer to 
the application and operation of a BART alternative. Sources that would 
operate under an annual trading program that provides tons per year 
allocations for a unit are not necessarily applying ``continuous'' 
controls either.

[[Page 60539]]

In fact, they are also free to operate seasonally or with intermittent 
use of controls so long as they operate within the allocation or 
purchase allowances whenever emissions may exceed that allocation. We 
necessarily disagree that EPA regulations would bar seasonal emissions 
reductions to satisfy requirements for a BART alternative.
    Comment: Louisiana purports to satisfy the regulatory requirements 
for a BART alternative by relying on ozone-season budgets for 
NOX that no longer exist. To rely on CSAPR as an alternative 
to BART, Louisiana must demonstrate that the version of CSAPR that is 
now in effect, and will be in effect at the time of the final rule, 
makes greater reasonable progress than BART. Having failed to make that 
demonstration, Louisiana has not met its burden to show that CSAPR will 
achieve greater reasonable progress than source-specific BART. See 40 
CFR 51.308(e)(2), (3). More troubling, Louisiana's reliance on the 
CSAPR ``Better than BART'' rule fails to account for, or even mention, 
the possibility that CSAPR or the ``Better than BART'' rule will not 
exist in any form when the SIP is finalized.
    Response: As we had proposed, our finalized determination that 
CSAPR participation will resolve NOX BART requirements for 
Louisiana EGUs is based on a separately proposed and finalized action. 
On September 29, 2017, we affirmed our proposed finding that the EPA's 
2012 analytical demonstration remains valid and that participation in 
CSAPR, as it now exists, meets the Regional Haze Rule's criteria for an 
alternative to BART.\121\ This comment falls outside of the scope of 
our action here.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \121\ 82 FR 45481 (September 29, 2017).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Comment: EPA need not wait to finalize this element of the Proposed 
Rule until the Agency finalizes its proposed finding that CSAPR 
continues to be better than BART despite the removal of Texas from the 
annual NOX and SO2 trading programs.\122\ EPA has 
performed technical analyses supporting its conclusion that the ozone 
season NOX trading program remains ``better than'' BART 
despite the removal of Texas from the annual programs, which supports a 
final action in this rulemaking.\123\ Further, this Proposed Rule 
provides sufficient public notice and opportunity to comment on whether 
CSAPR participation appropriately satisfies NOX BART 
requirements for Louisiana EGUs. In light of this, EPA should determine 
in this rulemaking that participation in CSAPR satisfies BART for 
NOX emissions from Louisiana's EGUs. At the very least, EPA 
should finalize its proposal that CSAPR remains better than BART \124\ 
in an expeditious manner, so that it can finalize this portion of the 
Proposed Rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \122\ Proposed Rule, at 22938 (citing Proposed Rule, Interstate 
Transport of Fine Particulate Matter: Revision of Federal 
Implementation Plan Requirements for Texas, 81 FR 78954 (Nov. 10, 
2016) (Proposed Texas Interstate Transport FIP)).
    \123\ Proposed Rule, Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation 
Plans; State of Texas; Regional Haze and Interstate Visibility 
Transport Federal Implementation Plan, 82 FR 912, 946 (Jan. 4, 2017) 
(``EPA's actions in response to the D.C. Circuit's remand would not 
adversely impact our 2012 demonstration that CSAPR is better than 
BART''); Proposed Texas Interstate Transport FIP at 78954.
    \124\ Proposed Texas Interstate Transport FIP, 81 FR 78954.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Response: We have finalized our proposed rule finding that CSAPR 
continues to be better than BART despite the removal of Texas from the 
annual NOX and SO2 trading programs,\125\ so this 
comment is no longer relevant.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \125\ 82 FR 45481 (September 29, 2017).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

H. Long-Term Strategy and Reasonable Progress

    Comment: The proposal unlawfully fails either to approve a 
corrected long-term strategy or to issue a federal implementation plan 
(``FIP'') containing a proper long-term strategy as required by the CAA 
and federal regulations. Regardless of whether the previous version of 
the Regional Haze Rule or the Revised Regional Haze Rule governs this 
rulemaking, the requirements are the same: EPA is obligated to consider 
the four statutory factors to determine whether controls are needed at 
non-BART sources in order to make reasonable progress regardless of 
whether such measures are needed to attain reasonable progress goals or 
the uniform rate of progress. See 82 FR 3078, 3080, 3090-91 (Jan. 10, 
2017); 79 FR 74818, 74828-30 (Dec. 16, 2014). EPA's proposal does not 
contain a reasonable progress analysis which considers these four 
factors for non-BART sources, such as Dolet Hills. The Revised Regional 
Haze Rule (82 FR 3078) explicitly brings the long-term strategy 
regulations in line with the statutory command to contain measures as 
necessary to make reasonable progress. Under the new requirements, 
``[t]he long-term strategy must include the enforceable emissions 
limitations, compliance schedules, and other measures that are 
necessary to make reasonable progress, as determined pursuant to 
(f)(2)(i) through (iv).''
    EPA's proposal provides no evidence that the State submitted a 
revised submittal which ``evaluate[d] and determine[d] the emission 
reductions measure that are necessary to make reasonable progress'' by 
evaluating the four statutory factors. Nor is there any evidence of 
criteria the State used to evaluate which sources should be evaluated 
in the reasonable progress analysis, and how the four factors were 
considered. In comments we submitted to the State, we noted that under 
any reasonable criteria for screening sources, Dolet Hills should be 
evaluated under the long-term strategy requirements. See Letter from 
Joshua Smith, Sierra Club to Vivian Aucoin, Louisiana Department of 
Environmental Quality at 7-11 (Dec. 14, 2016), attached as Exhibit 5. 
Cleco Power's lignite-fired Dolet Hills Power Station is one of the 
largest sources of visibility-impairing SO2 and 
NOX emissions in Louisiana. States and EPA routinely use a 
Q/D analysis as an initial screening method for determining which 
sources should be analyzed using the four factors. Using this approach, 
EPA, the states, and federal land managers generally conduct modeling 
for any source that has a Q divided by D threshold of 10 or more. Using 
Dolet Hills's average annual SO2 and NOX 
emissions from 2000-2016, Dolet Hills easily meets the Q/D threshold 
for additional modeling based on impacts to Breton National Wilderness 
Area and Caney Creek National Wilderness Area. For example, the Q/D for 
Dolet Hills based on annual SO2 emissions (17,907 tpy) and 
distance to Breton (500 km) would be 35.8.
    Based on the Q/D analysis, EPA was required to issue a FIP applying 
the four factors to Dolet Hills to determine whether additional 
emissions reductions are necessary at Dolet Hills to make reasonable 
progress. EPA's failure to do so violates the statute and the 
implementing regulations. The Stamper Report also provides a rough 
estimate of what such a four-factor analysis would look like for Dolet 
Hills for SO2. First, there is ample support for requiring 
reasonable progress controls at Dolet Hills within a reasonable amount 
of time--no more than five years--just as EPA did for similar sources 
in the Texas reasonable progress FIP. Second, as EPA has recognized, 
the SO2 control technologies of wet and dry FGD systems are 
widely used at coal-fired power plants all over the United States, and 
any energy and non-air quality environmental impacts of these controls 
are vastly outweighed by the benefits of significant reductions of air 
pollutants. Third, the Dolet Hills Power Plant began operation in 1986, 
and Cleco Power has indicated that the expected lifetime of

[[Page 60540]]

the unit is sixty years. In any event, because there is no enforceable 
requirement or deadline for retirement, EPA must assume that the 
remaining useful life of the plant is 30 years--i.e., the life of the 
SO2 pollution controls evaluated.
    Finally, it is clear that a new wet FGD system at Dolet Hills would 
be cost effective. Assuming a 98% SO2 removal efficiency, or 
a 0. 04 lb/MMBtu SO2 emission rate, and applying EPA's 
standard cost assumptions (i.e., a 7% interest rate; 30-year life, 
etc.), the cost of a new wet FGD scrubber at Dolet Hills would be 
approximately $1,710/ton, which is well within EPA's range of 
reasonable BART costs. Moreover, emissions from the lignite-fired Dolet 
Hills power plant are currently responsible for significant visibility 
impairment at a number of Class I areas, including a more than 1.0 
deciview (``dv'') baseline impact at Caney Creek. Gray Report at 6, 
Table 5. The modeling also demonstrates that installation of 
SO2 controls at Dolet Hills, such as a replacement wet FGD 
system, would dramatically improve the visibility at all modeled Class 
I areas. Indeed, the installation of a wet FGD scrubber at Dolet Hills 
would improve visibility at Caney Creek by 0.799 dv, relative to 
baseline 2000-2004 emissions. Moreover, a wet FGD system would result 
in almost a 0.5 dv improvement at Breton Island in Louisiana, and more 
than 0.5 dv improvement at Wichita Mountains and the Upper Buffalo. 
Overall cumulative delta dv impacts across six Class I areas would be 
reduced from 4.23 to 0.93--a cumulative improvement of 3.30 dv.
    In sum, the installation of a new WFGD system at Dolet Hills would 
be well within the range of costs that EPA has deemed reasonable and 
cost effective. Moreover, the installation of a new wet FGD system a 
Dolet Hills would result in a significant and noticeable change in 
visibility on the peak impact days at several Class I areas. 
Consequently, EPA must evaluate whether additional emission reductions 
at Dolet Hills are necessary to ensure reasonable progress toward the 
national goal.
    Response: In 2012, we proposed to find that Louisiana's Long Term 
Strategy (LTS) for the first planning period was deficient given our 
proposed finding that certain of Louisiana's BART determinations were 
not fully approvable. ``In general, the State followed the requirements 
of 40 CFR 51.308(d)(1), but these goals do not reflect appropriate 
emissions reductions from BART.'' \126\ We finalized that action, which 
specifically disapproved the State's LTS, but only insofar as it relied 
on deficient BART determinations.\127\ With this final action, we are 
approving all of LDEQ's SIP submittals, including the ones submitted 
after the 2008 SIP submittal, which have cured the deficiencies in the 
2008 SIP revision submittal as identified in our 2012 action that 
related to BART, thus correcting the deficiencies in the LTS portion of 
the SIP as well. We note that the Regional Haze Rule requires states to 
submit periodic comprehensive SIP revisions that will continue to 
assess measures needed to achieve reasonable progress; the next SIP 
revision is due in 2021. We also note that the Revised Regional Haze 
Rule referenced by the commenter makes changes to the requirements that 
states have to meet for the second and subsequent implementation 
periods, but the revised rule is not applicable to this SIP 
submittal.\128\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \126\ 77 FR 11856 (Feb. 28, 2012).
    \127\ 77 FR 39426 (July 3, 2012).
    \128\ 82 FR 3078 (January 10, 2017).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I. Compliance Date for Nelson

    Comment: The three-year compliance date for Nelson Unit 6 does not 
meet the Clean Air Act requirement that BART controls be installed as 
expeditiously as practicable. There is no specific technical or 
economic evidence in the record to support a three-year compliance 
date. The record indicates that Entergy is likely meeting the 0.6 lbs/
MMBtu limit now. On September 28, 2017, Entergy's counsel wrote to EPA 
that ``You asked whether the Nelson plant currently is meeting an 
emission rate of 0.6 lbs/MMBtu. The answer is that Nelson 6 generally 
is emitting at levels below that level, with periodic exceptions when 
the sulfur content is higher.'' \129\ In addition, Entergy's reported 
monthly emissions data over the last several years clearly indicate 
that ``Entergy has been able to consistently purchase coal with a 
sulfur content that would enable the Nelson Unit to comply with the 
0.60 lbs./MMBtu level.'' \130\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \129\ Email from William Bumpers to EPA (Sept. 18, 2017), EPA 
Docket ID No. EPA-R06-OAR-2017-0129-0041.''
    \130\ See EPA, BART Modeling and Cost Information Technical 
Assistance Document at 15 (attached as App'x F to Louisiana SIP).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Even if Nelson is not currently meeting the proposed SO2 
limit, Entergy's counsel represented to EPA that Nelson could meet the 
0.6 lbs/MMBtu limit in 2018 and 2019 if the limit was an annual average 
rather than a 30-day rolling average.\131\ In the same message, 
Entergy's counsel stated that Nelson could meet the 0.6 lbs/MMBtu 
limit, with a 30-day rolling average, ``for 2020.'' \132\ EPA's stated 
rationale for the deadline extension--that Entergy needs three years to 
comply--is contradicted by Entergy's statement that it could meet a 30-
day rolling average of 0.6 lbs/MMBtu beginning in 2020. Entergy 
represents that it would ``be difficult for Nelson to assure compliance 
with an emission limit of 0.6 lbs/MMBtu before 2020.'' \133\ Entergy 
stated that it was unable to blend fuel, yet this is contradicted by 
the record. The Company has been ``consistently'' purchasing low-sulfur 
coal and ``blending them in its feed stream for a number of years.'' 
\134\ Entergy did not explain what equipment it had on site, what 
equipment it believes would be necessary to blend coal, and how much 
the necessary equipment would cost.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \131\ Email from William Bumpers to EPA (Sept. 18, 2017), EPA 
Docket ID No. EPA-R06-OAR-2017-0129-0041 (``If Nelson were given an 
annual limit of 0.6 lbs/MMBtu for 2018 and 2019, transitioning to a 
30-day rolling average for 2020, Entergy Louisiana believes it could 
achieve such limits.'').
    \132\ Id.
    \133\ Id.
    \134\ See BART Modeling and Cost Information Technical 
Assistance Document at 6, 15.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Additionally, Entergy could accept penalties for cancelling 
portions of its 2018 and 2019 contracts. Entergy did not provide any 
information about the penalties of cancelling the contract. It would 
have been able to submit this information to EPA and claim it as 
confidential business information. Neither the State nor EPA considered 
any other alternatives to extending the compliance deadline by three 
years. There is no evidence in the record for this amendment that the 
State or EPA considered the costs for Entergy to purchase the low-
sulfur coal and fuel blending equipment necessary to meet the 
compliance deadline before 2020. Nor is there any evidence that the 
State or EPA considered alternatives such as lengthening the averaging 
time for the 0.6 lbs/MMBtu limit for 2018 and 2019. Inexplicably, no 
consideration was given to the proposal that Entergy itself made: An 
annual limit for 2018 and 2019, followed by a 30-day rolling average 
for 2020.
    Response: In a letter dated October 26, 2017 \135\ sent to LDEQ and 
EPA during the respective comment periods, Entergy stated that though 
it had recently been receiving lower sulfur

[[Page 60541]]

coal, the sulfur content can vary greatly since its current contract 
limits the sulfur coal delivered to 1.2 lbs/MMBtu. Entergy further 
stated that it does not have the equipment necessary to blend fuel 
which limits its ability to manage variable fuel supplies. Thus, it 
would not be able to consistently meet the 0.6 lbs/MMBtu emission limit 
that has been determined to be BART prior to the expiration of its 
current contracts. BART is required to be installed and operational as 
expeditiously as practicable, but in no event later than five years 
after the approval of the SIP. The State took the circumstances at 
Entergy into account and determined that a compliance period of three 
years met this requirement. Under the company's current contract, the 
company could potentially receive coal that violates the limit. 
Therefore, it is reasonable for company to have time to enter into new 
contracts with new specifications. Further, the commenter raises the 
possibility of an annual limit that would be in place sooner. Annual 
limits, however, are generally not considered appropriate for BART 
which targets improvements on the days of maximum impact from the 
source. EPA has reviewed all the information in the SIP submittal and 
finds that the state has made a reasoned determination that meets the 
applicable requirements and therefore is approvable.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \135\ Letter from Kelly McQueen to Samuel Coleman, Re: Proposed 
Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Louisiana; 
Regional Haze State Implementation Plan, EPA-R06-OAR-2017-0129, 
October 26. 2017.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

IV. Final Action

    We are approving revisions to the Louisiana SIP submitted on June 
13, 2008, August 11, 2016, February 10, 2017, and October 26, 2017, as 
supplemented October 9, 2017, as meeting the regional haze requirements 
for the first planning period. This action includes the finding that 
the submittals meet the applicable regional haze requirements as set 
forth in sections 169A and 169B of the CAA and 40 CFR 51.300-308. The 
EPA is approving the SIP submittals with the supplemental information 
as meeting the following: The core requirements for regional haze SIPs 
found in 40 CFR 51.308(d) such as the requirement to establish 
reasonable progress goals, the requirement to determine the baseline 
and natural visibility conditions, and the requirement to submit a 
long-term strategy; the BART requirements for regional haze visibility 
impairment with respect to emissions of visibility impairing pollutants 
from non-EGUs and EGUs in 40 CFR 51.308(e); and the requirement for 
coordination with state and Federal Land Managers in Sec.  51.308(i). 
For the BART requirements, we are approving LDEQ's determination that 
the BART-eligible sources at the following facilities do not cause or 
contribute to visibility impairment and are not subject to BART: 
Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government Houma Generating Station 
(Houma), Louisiana Energy and Power Authority Plaquemine Steam Plant 
(Plaquemine), Lafayette Utilities System Louis ``Doc'' Bonin Generating 
Station, Cleco Teche, Entergy Sterlington, NRG Big Cajun I, and NRG Big 
Cajun II. We are also approving LDEQ's reliance on CSAPR to meet the 
NOX BART requirement for EGUs. We are approving the 
following Agreed Orders on Consent that make the source-specific BART 
emission limits enforceable for the subject to BART units at the 
following facilities:

 Phillips 66 Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) No. AE-AOC-
14-00211A
 Mosaic AOC No. AE-AOC-14-00274A
 EcoServices AOC No. AE-14-00957 and through the applicability 
of the New Source Performance Standards for Sulfuric Acid Plants (40 
CFR part 60, subpart H)
 Entergy Willow Glen AOC--February 2017 LDEQ submittal, 
Appendix D
 Cleco Brame Energy Center AOC--February 2017 LDEQ submittal, 
Appendix B
 Entergy Little Gypsy AOC--February 2017 LDEQ submittal, 
Appendix D
 Entergy Ninemile Point AOC--February 2017 LDEQ submittal, 
Appendix D
 Entergy Waterford AOC--February 2017 LDEQ submittal, Appendix 
D
 Entergy Nelson AOC--October 2017 LDEQ submittal, Appendix D

We are approving the following AOC that limits the emissions such that 
the units at the facility are not subject to BART:

 NRG Big Cajun II AOC--February 2017 LDEQ submittal, Appendix C

Our approval addresses all of the deficiencies identified in our 
previous actions on the 2008 SIP revision.

V. Incorporation by Reference

    In this rule, the EPA is finalizing regulatory text that includes 
incorporation by reference. In accordance with the requirements of 1 
CFR 51.5, the EPA is finalizing the incorporation by reference of the 
revisions to the Louisiana regulations as described in the Final Action 
section above. The EPA has made, and will continue to make, these 
materials generally available through www.regulations.gov and at the 
EPA Region 6 Office (please contact Ms. Jennifer Huser for more 
information). Therefore, these materials have been approved by EPA for 
inclusion in the SIP, have been incorporated by reference by EPA into 
that plan, are fully federally enforceable under sections 110 and 113 
of the CAA as of the effective date of the final rulemaking of EPA's 
approval, and will be incorporated by reference by the Director of the 
Federal Register in the next update to the SIP compilation (62 FR 
27968, May 22, 1997).

VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    Under the Clean Air Act, the Administrator is required to approve a 
SIP submission that complies with the provisions of the Act and 
applicable Federal regulations. 42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a). 
Thus, in reviewing SIP submissions, the EPA's role is to approve state 
choices, provided that they meet the criteria of the Clean Air Act. 
Accordingly, this action merely approves state law as meeting Federal 
requirements and does not impose additional requirements beyond those 
imposed by state law. For that reason, this action:
     Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' subject to 
review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Orders 
12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21, 
2011);
     Is not an Executive Order 13771 (82 FR 9339, February 2, 
2017) regulatory action because SIP approvals are exempted under 
Executive Order 12866;
     Does not impose an information collection burden under the 
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
     Is certified as not having a significant economic impact 
on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
     Does not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or 
uniquely affect small governments, described in the Unfunded Mandates 
Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4);
     Does not have Federalism implications as specified in 
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999);
     Is not an economically significant regulatory action based 
on health or safety risks subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 
19885, April 23, 1997);
     Is not a significant regulatory action subject to 
Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001);
     Is not subject to requirements of section 12(d) of the 
National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 
note) because

[[Page 60542]]

application of those requirements would be inconsistent with the CAA; 
and
     Does not provide EPA with the discretionary authority to 
address, as appropriate, disproportionate human health or environmental 
effects, using practicable and legally permissible methods, under 
Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
In addition, the SIP is not approved to apply on any Indian reservation 
land or in any other area where EPA or an Indian tribe has demonstrated 
that a tribe has jurisdiction. In those areas of Indian country, the 
rule does not have tribal implications and will not impose substantial 
direct costs on tribal governments or preempt tribal law as specified 
by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000).
    The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally 
provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating 
the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, 
to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the 
United States. EPA will submit a report containing this action and 
other required information to the U. S. Senate, the U. S. House of 
Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior 
to publication of the rule in the Federal Register. A major rule cannot 
take effect until 60 days after it is published in the Federal 
Register. This action is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 
804(2).
    Under section 307(b)(1) of the Clean Air Act, petitions for 
judicial review of this action must be filed in the United States Court 
of Appeals for the appropriate circuit by February 20, 2018. Filing a 
petition for reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule 
does not affect the finality of this action for the purposes of 
judicial review nor does it extend the time within which a petition for 
judicial review may be filed, and shall not postpone the effectiveness 
of such rule or action. This action may not be challenged later in 
proceedings to enforce its requirements. (See section 307(b)(2).)

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Incorporation by 
reference, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Particulate matter, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur oxides, Visibility, Interstate 
transport of pollution, Regional haze, Best available retrofit 
technology.

    Dated: December 14, 2017.
Samuel Coleman,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 6.

    40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows:

PART 52--APPROVAL AND PROMULGATION OF IMPLEMENTATION PLANS

0
1. The authority citation for part 52 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.

Subpart T--Louisiana

0
2. In Sec.  52.970:
0
a. Paragraph (d) is amended by revising the heading for ``Permit 
number'' to ``Permit or order number'' in the table titled ``EPA-
Approved Louisiana Source-Specific Requirements'' and by adding new 
entries at the end of the table; and
0
b. Paragraph (e) is amended by adding a new entry for ``Louisiana 
Regional Haze'' at the end of the second table titled ``EPA Approved 
Nonregulatory Provisions and Quasi-Regulatory Measures''.
    The amendments read as follows:


Sec.  52.970   Identification of plan.

* * * * *
    (d) * * *

                                                   EPA-Approved Louisiana Source-Specific Requirements
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                             State
                                                                                           approval/
            Name of source                           Permit or order number                effective       EPA approval date             Comments
                                                                                              date
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
Phillips 66 Alliance Refinery........  Administrative Order on Consent No. AE-AOC-14-       4/29/2016  12/21/2017, [Insert       .......................
                                        00211A.                                                         Federal Register
                                                                                                        citation].
EcoServices LLC......................  EcoServices AOC No. AE-14-00957 and through the       8/8/2016  12/21/2017, [Insert       .......................
                                        applicability of the New Source Performance                     Federal Register
                                        Standards for Sulfuric Acid Plants (40 CFR part                 citation].
                                        60, subpart H).
Mosaic...............................  Mosaic AOC No. AE-AOC-14-00274A..................     6/6/2016  12/21/2017, [Insert       .......................
                                                                                                        Federal Register
                                                                                                        citation].
NRG Big Cajun II.....................  In the Matter of Louisiana Generating LLC, Point      2/9/2017  12/21/2017, [Insert       Units 1 and 2.
                                        Coupee Parish, Big Cajun II Power Plant.                        Federal Register
                                                                                                        citation].
Cleco Power, LLC Brame Energy Center.  In the Matter of Cleco Power, LLC, Rapides            2/9/2017  12/21/2017, [Insert       Unit 1 (Nesbitt 1) and
                                        Parish, Brame Energy Center.                                    Federal Register          Unit 2 (Rodemacher 2).
                                                                                                        citation].
Entergy Louisiana, LLC, Little Gypsy   In the Matter of Entergy Louisiana, LLC, Little      2/13/2017  12/21/2017, [Insert       Units 2, 3, and the
 Generating Plant.                      Gypsy Generating Plant, St. Charles Parish.                     Federal Register          Auxiliary Boiler.
                                                                                                        citation].
Entergy Louisiana, LLC, Ninemile       In the Matter of Entergy Louisiana, LLC, Ninemile     2/9/2017  12/21/2017, [Insert       Units 4 and 5.
 Point Electric Generating Plant.       Point Electric Generating Plant, Jefferson                      Federal Register
                                        Parish.                                                         citation].

[[Page 60543]]

 
Entergy Louisiana, LLC, Waterford....  In the Matter of Entergy Louisiana, LLC,              2/9/2017  12/21/2017, [Insert       Units 1 and 2.
                                        Waterford 1 & 2 Electrical Generating Plant, St.                Federal Register
                                        Charles Parish.                                                 citation].
Entergy Louisiana, LLC, Willow Glen    In the Matter of Entergy Louisiana, LLC, Willow       2/9/2017  12/21/2017, [Insert       Units 2, 3, 4, 5, and
 Generating Plant.                      Glen Generating Plant, Iberville Parish.                        Federal Register          the Auxiliary Boiler.
                                                                                                        citation].
Entergy Louisiana, LLC, R. S. Nelson   In the Matter of Entergy Louisiana, LLC, R. S.      10/26/2017  12/21/2017, [Insert       Units 4, 6, and the
 Generating Plant.                      Nelson Generating Plant, Calcasieu Parish.                      Federal Register          Unit 4 Auxiliary
                                                                                                        citation].                Boiler.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (e) * * *

                                           EPA Approved Nonregulatory Provisions and Quasi-Regulatory Measures
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                             State
                                                                                           submittal
          Name SIP provision              Applicable geographic or nonattainment area        date/         EPA approval date           Explanation
                                                                                           effective
                                                                                              date
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
Louisiana Regional Haze..............  Statewide........................................    6/13/2008  12/21/2017, [Insert       Supplemental
                                                                                            8/11/2016   Federal Register          information provided
                                                                                            2/10/2017   citation.                 10/9/2017 regarding
                                                                                           10/26/2017                             Entergy Louisiana,
                                                                                                                                  LLC, Michoud Electric
                                                                                                                                  Generating Plant,
                                                                                                                                  Units 1, 2, and 3,
                                                                                                                                  Permit no. 2140-00014-
                                                                                                                                  V4, effective 4/28/15.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


0
3. Section 52.985 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  52.985   Visibility protection.

    (a) Measures addressing best available retrofit technology (BART) 
for electric generating unit (EGU) emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOX). 
The BART requirements for EGU NOX emissions are satisfied by 
Sec.  52.984.
    (b) Other measures addressing BART. The BART requirements for 
emissions other than EGU NOX emissions are satisfied by the 
Louisiana Regional Haze SIP approved December 21, 2017.

[FR Doc. 2017-27452 Filed 12-20-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P